Higher Education Benchmarking

Higher Education Benchmarking Policy

Policy Code: LT2016

Purpose
Scope
Legislative Context
Definitions
Policy Statement
Confidentiality and Privacy
Supporting Documents
Responsibility
Promulgation
Implementation

Purpose

This policy mandates how the University will review and assure the achievement of degree-level learning outcomes through conducting external benchmarking of the University’s assessment and grading of final year courses compared to similar universities. In addition, this procedure also mandates how the University will conduct external benchmarking of the University’s progression rates, attrition rates and completion times/rates against similar universities as detailed in the Higher Education Benchmarking Procedure.

Scope

This policy applies to all higher education award programs that are not conducted solely by research, including programs delivered at Partner Providers.

Legislative Context

  • Federation University Australia Act 2010
  • The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act)

Definitions

Term Definition
Benchmarking Benchmarking is a means of comparing the University's performance or standards, or both, with those of its peers.
Course A subsidiary element of a program (previously referred to as unit)
Cross marking Marking of assessment items previously marked by the benchmarking partner
Final year course Course undertaken in the last year of study
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) An MOU is a document that records the common intent of two or more parties where the parties do not wish to assume legally binding obligations. An MOU is usually less complex and less detailed than a contract, but provides a framework and set of principles to guide the parties in undertaking a project or working arrangement
Program Study/research leading to the granting of an official University award or qualification – refer Schedule 5.1. A program contains subsidiary elements referred to as courses

Policy Statement

Principle Demonstrated by:
The University quality assures its programs by benchmarking final year course outcomes with similar Universities
  • ensuring that students of Federation University are achieving the required degree-level learning outcomes upon completion of the program of study
  • reviewing any findings noted by the benchmarking partner and developing and implementing recommendations as deemed appropriate 
The University benchmarks progression rates, attrition rates and completion times / rates against similar universities
  • ensuring a periodic review of the University’s data against the sector to allow cross-university comparisons
  • developing and implementing action plans as required to ensure the University remains comparable to like institutions

Confidentiality and Privacy

Supporting Documents

Responsibility

  • DVC Learning and Quality is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this procedure.

Promulgation

The Higher Education Benchmarking Procedure will be communicated throughout the University community in the form of:

  1. an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure;

Implementation

The Higher Education Benchmarking Procedure will be implemented throughout the University via:

  1. an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure;
  2. School based information sessions
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Higher Education Benchmarking 
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Approval Authority: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Original Issue 14/12/2017
Policy Sponsor: Director, CLIPP Current Version: 14/12/2017
CRICOS Provider Number 00103D Review Date: 04/10/2022
Policy Code LT2016