About continuous quality improvement
Continuous quality improvement at Deakin
Deakin University is committed to continuous quality improvement (CQI); it is embraced as part of the University's everyday work and is embedded in its annual planning cycle and in the policies and practices in place to ensure and improve the quality of its academic and other activities.
Deakin uses a cycle of continuous improvement that involves:
- developing a plan that sets out the goals that we are seeking to achieve
- determining and implementing a set of strategies to achieve those goals
- measuring and evaluating outcomes
- reviewing, revising or replanning to ensure that our goals are realised
CQI requires reliable measures of performance and the systematic collection of data and evaluation of outcomes against those measures. Benchmarking is also an important part of CQI at Deakin and is used in reviewing the University's performance and reflecting on the effectiveness of its processes.
Performance review, evaluation and planning process
Deakin's annual planning cycle embeds continuous improvement at every level of the University's operations. An integral part of that cycle is the performance review, evaluation and planning (PREP) process. PREP is essentially an organisational version of the individual performance, planning and review procedure. The University, Faculties, Institutes and other areas all produce PREP reports.
View further information about the PREP process and PREP reports.
Reviews
Deakin has a well-established commitment to regular review as a means of critically assessing its performance and exploring opportunities for improvement. Policies and procedures are in place requiring:
- annual course reviews and major course reviews at least every five years
- external reviews of Faculties and other identified areas normally on a five-yearly cycle
View information about Faculty, Institute and other area reviews
Reviews may also be conducted of:
- Schools, at the request of the Vice-Chancellor
- disciplines, normally at the request of the Dean or Head of School, or in response to a recommendation from a Faculty, School or annual course review
Benchmarking at Deakin
Benchmarking is an important part of continuous quality improvement at Deakin and is used to review the University's performance, reflect on the effectiveness of its processses and identify areas for improvement.
View information about Deakin's approach to benchmarking and benchmarking guidelines
Quality Improvement Plan
The Deakin University Quality Improvement Plan 2010-2011 identifies priority areas for quality improvement and the actions that are being taken to address these areas. Reports on progress against the Plan are monitored by the Continuous Quality Improvement Subcommittee.
View the Deakin University Quality Improvement Plan 2010-2011 (269 KB)
AUQA audits
The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) will audit Deakin University in June 2011. AUQA carries out independent quality audits of all higher education institutions and accredited authorities, approximately every five years.
Deakin was last audited by AUQA in 2004 and an AUQA Implementation Plan was developed responding to suggested areas for improvement. Since 2010 outstanding matters have been incorporated in the Quality Improvement Plan 2010-2011.
View further information about the 2011 AUQA Audit
Continuous Quality Improvement Subcommittee
The Continuous Quality Improvement Subcommittee of the Planning and Resources Committee advises the Vice-Chancellor on the integration of CQI within the University's planning and reporting cycle and monitors and champions the implementation of CQI across the University's operations.
