Benchmarking is an important tool for quality assurance and improvement. Benchmarking activities at UTAS are guided by the University's adoption of the OADRI cycle of continuous improvement which involves setting objectives, planning and deploying the approach, monitoring and evaluating the results and implementing improvements based on this evaluation. Faculties are required to document formal benchmarking projects as part of the institutional Faculty Planning Process. The role of SERRU is to assist faculties to develop and coordinate formal benchmarking projects.
UTAS has a Benchmarking Policy and Procedure to frame the University's approach to implementing benchmarking. These policy documents are in the final stages of approval.
The University maintains a Register (PDF 113.0KB)* of benchmarking activities. Completed projects include:
Academic Transition Support for First Year students (with University of Wollongong)
Assessment Processes and Policies (with University of Wollongong and Deakin University)
Higher Degree Research (with the University of Wollongong and Deakin University)
A benchmarking project proposal has been submitted to the Higher Education Academy in April, 2012. The project builds on a 2009 HEA report on reward and recognition and internationally recognised work at University of Wollongong on promotions criteria and peer review of teaching-related activities. This project aims to produce resources to guide and improve academic promotion policy and practice to reflect the recognition of teaching as core to the assurance of standards in higher education. International and inter-university in reach, the project involves four British and Australian universities (University of Leicester, University of Newcastle upon Tyne; University of Tasmania, University of Wollongong) developing a benchmarking framework wherein they will share and compare promotions policies, processes as well as staff perceptions of promotion. The benchmarking process includes the development of a benchmarking framework with performance indicators and measures which can be applied across the higher education sector. The project will have three phases of review. An international reference group, from the UK and Australia, will provide feedback on the benchmarking framework prior to the four universities undertaking a self and peer review of academic promotion polices and processes.
The project addresses international standards imperatives to demonstrate sector-level, self-regulated, robust approaches for assuring quality and comparing standards in universities and the importance of the role of benchmarking and external validation.
* Please note that UTAS staff authentication is required to access the reports above.
Booth, S. (2012, 12-14 November). Utilising benchmarking to inform decision-making at the institutional level: A research informed process. Paper presented at the Australasian Association for Institutional Research Forum, Terrigal: NSW.
Booth, S. & Frappell, P. (2011, 29 June-1 July). Evaluation criteria and evidence for a self review of higher degree research. Paper presented at the Australian Universities Quality Forum: Demonstrating Quality Conference, Melbourne.
Booth, S., Melano, A., Sainsbury, H., & Woodley, L. (2011, 29 June-1 July). Articulating and comparing standards through benchmarking of assessment. Paper presented at the Australian Universities Quality Forum: Demonstrating Quality Conference, Melbourne.