Planning and Review

Introduction

Quality assurance at UWS is embedded in the University’s ongoing strategic and operational planning, accreditation, reporting and review processes. The University endeavours to ensure the core activities of learning, research and engagement are working productively with the direct support of enabling services including the library, student services, information technology, financial management and student administration to achieve its mission and strategic directions.

The Plan, Implement, Review, Improve (PIRI) Cycle

The University recognises that planning, implementation, review and improvement are ongoing.

The PIRI principles are implemented through a cyclical process of:

• planning, including setting a new strategic direction or a key improvement to current practice, on the basis of internal and/or external review
• implementing the plan and monitoring the results against agreed performance measures
• reviewing performance against the data reported and then re-planning
• improvement based on review as well as sustaining those areas of good practice identified as working well during implementation.

» UWS Planning, Reporting and Review Cycle (PDF, 99Kb)

For a more detailed outline, please see the Strategic Planning and Review overview (PDF, 12Kb).

Planning

UWS uses a 'nested' approach to planning. That is, the University level plan sets parameters within which divisional, college, school and other plans are located. These more specific plans seek to address the University’s strategic priorities in ways which are both relevant and feasible for local conditions.

The approach to strategic planning at UWS is based on research into what constitutes effective and ineffective practice in the area. The focus is on setting a small number of key strategic directions rather than adopting a cascading, linear approach to planning and implementation.

To view the University's Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan and the plans for Teaching and Learning, Research and Regional and Community Engagement, please see Missions, Goals and Values. Other relevant documents are Shape of the Future - a Structure for UWS in the 21st Century (PDF, 1.18Mb) and UWS Strategic Directions (PDF, 112Kb).

To view the college and division plans, please see Planning (requires staff login).

Implementing

Oversight and coordination of planning and quality management activities at UWS is provided by the University’s Strategy and Quality Committee (PDF, 13Kb) and a Student Recruitment and Retention Committee (PDF, 64Kb) provides strategic oversight and coordination of student recruitment and retention.

Reviewing

UWS uses a combination of reviews to track the extent to which its plans and key strategic objectives are being consistently and effectively implemented. Whenever possible, reviews are embedded into ongoing tracking and improvement systems e.g. the UWS Annual Course Reports. 

However, there are times when it is strategically important to review a key issue, theme or area for UWS. Examples include the 2005 Review of University Engagement and the 2005 Divisional Review. 

The University engages in more formal cyclical reviews in areas, for example, the school and program reviews.

UWS has a range of systems to ensure that review processes are informed by data. For example, Learning and Teaching has the UWS Tracking and Improvement System for Learning and Teaching (TILT). University engagement reviews draw upon the UWS engagement database. Research reviews and research training produce a range of tracking and performance reports.

To view the review documents, please see Reviewing (requires staff login).

Improving

The University has a range of quality assurance processes and support systems in place to ensure that both the key strategic priorities and the recommendations from reviews are addressed promptly and wisely. The approach is based on 25 years of research on effective change implementation in post secondary and higher education (PDF, 80Kb).

To view the action plans, please see Improving (requires staff login).