University of Tasmania, Australia

UTAS is currently involved in a number of internal and national academic standards projects. These projects include:

Teaching Standards Project (National Project with Macquarie University)

In 2010, Macquarie University was successful in obtaining funding through DEEWR and the ALTC to coordinate a project aimed at developing a national Teaching Standards Framework (TSF). Nine universities were involved in testing and re-designing a TSF that was already in existence at Macquarie University. Macquarie University was successful in obtaining funding to test an online TSF tool that would enable universities to report against the standards. UTAS was chosen as one of the 11 universities across Australia to test the functionality and useability of the online TSF tool. UTAS tested the online tool at the institutional level, faculty (Faculty of Arts-first year), and the course level (Bachelor of Education-Primary).

ALTC Inter-university Moderation Project (National Project)

This National Project will produce resources to guide a process of peer review and moderation for assuring final year unit and program achievement standards. Eight universities will identify common final year units across a range of disciplines aligned with the ALTC discipline standards project. Unit convenors shared unit outlines and selected assessment samples for review by at least two other project universities in Semester 1, 2012. UTAS coordinated units with the universities of Deakin and Wollongong. The disciplines involved in the project at UTAS include Economics, Journalism, and Nursing.

Invitational Roundtable: Inter-University Peer Review in Law: Implications for Monitoring and Assuring Academic Standards

Dr Sara Booth was invited to an invitational roundtable in Sydney to present with colleagues, Prof Sally Kift (DVC-JCU), Prof Kerri-Lee Krause (PVC-UWS), and Prof Mark Freeman (Sydney) on peer review and monitoring and assuring academic standards. Prof Gary Meyers, Associate Dean (L&T) in Law, also participated in the peer review of the Bachelor of Laws Threshold Learning Outcomes with oher Law colleagues. The roundtable discussion will inform the development of a national discussion paper on Learning and Teaching standards.

ALTC HDR Best Practice Framework (National Project)

Dr Sara Booth was invited to a workshop with the DDOGs Executive to develop a Best Practice Framework for higher degree research. UTAS is currently assisting Edith Cowan University to develop benchmarking software to benchmark HDR processes across Australia.

UTAS UniversityStandards Project

The testing of the UTAS Academic Standards Project ran from October 2011 to August 2012. As a result of testing the Student Support and Teaching dimensions with the Faculty of Health Science and the Cradle Coast campus, respectively, a number of important adjustments have been made to the framework. This includes teh renaming of the framework to the University Standards Framework (USF). The dimensions so far developed in teh Framework are Research, Research Training, Curriculum, Learning, Teaching, and Student Experience. The removal of 'academic' from the former version is in recognition that standards are now considerably broader and institutional-wide rather than only the remit of the academic domain. The entire framework has also been broadened to include 6 focus areas: Management Responsibilities; Planning; Policies; Resources; Practices; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Risk.

A final report, including the revised framework, was presented to the Academic Standards Sub-Committee at its August, 2012 meeting. As a result of discussions at this meeting, the final report has been revised and was presented to the Quality Committee in October, 2012. The Quality Committee endorsed the Version 1 of the University Standards Framework as a strategic planning document. Software has also been developed to be able to benchmark standards across the institution.

University Standards Framework

USF User Guide

Presentations and Papers

Booth, S., Walls, J., Ennever, C., & Kelder, J-A. (2012, 2-5 July). Implementing a process for measuring student support in the Faculty of Health Science. Showcase presentation at HERDSA Conference, Hobart. Presentation

Booth, S. (2012). Articulating and comparing assessment standards through benchmarking and university standards frameworks. Invitational Roundtable: Inter-University Collegial Peer Review and Moderation in Law: Implications for Monitoring and Assuring Academic Standards, 4th October, Sydney. Presentation

Saunders, C. and Booth, S. (2012). Development of an Academic Standards Framework (ASF) and online evaluation and reporting tool at the University of Tasmania. Australasian Association for Institutional Research (AAIR) Annual Forum, 12th-14th November, Terrigal. Paper  Presentation

 

Contact Dr Sara Booth for more information on University Standards Projects: Sara.Booth@utas.edu.au