AUQA praise for Deakin

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) released its report on Deakin University.

The Report, prepared by a Panel external to the University, is significant because it provides an independent quality assurance check of our processes.

I am absolutely delighted with the Report; everyone at Deakin should be very proud of it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so hard to achieve this result.  I would also like to thank the more than 300 people who spoke to the AUQA panel.

The Report contains a summary of findings together with a list of Commendations, Recommendations and Affirmations. A Commendation refers to the achievement of a stated goal, or to some plan or activity that has led to, or appears likely to lead to, the achievement of a stated goal, and which in AUQA's view is particularly significant. A Recommendation refers to an unsuitable approach, a faulty deployment, or a lack of success in relation to a stated goal, and which in AUQA's view is particularly significant. Recommendations indicate matters in need of attention. Where such matters have already been identified by Deakin University, they are termed Affirmations.

The Panel has identified nine Commendations, seven Affirmations and thirteen Recommendations.

The nine Commendations deserve special mention. They are:

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for the implementation of an integrated planning and budget model that serves as a comprehensive quality framework and ensures that strategic priorities and operational targets are addressed at every level of the organisation".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for its support of the Online Teaching and Learning Fellowship Program which is an innovative and successful strategy for supporting those staff with an interest in further extending the use of online technologies in their teaching".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for the establishment of Research Priority Areas which are successfully providing a stimulus for the development of research networks across the University and partnerships with external organisations".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for its two day intensive workshop for early career researchers which are highly valued by staff and which facilitate their first research grant applications".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for the significant improvement of a number of research performance measures in recent years".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for its strategy to link with, and serve, the needs of its rural and regional communities".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for its manifest commitment to equity and access which allows individuals and groups who might otherwise not be able to participate in higher education to do so".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University's Institute of Koorie Education for the community-based learning model that is successfully providing Indigenous students with access to higher education".

• "AUQA commends Deakin University for the implementation of the Performance Planning and Review process which is a useful and valued tool in performance management and individual career planning."

As AUQA recognised, and I firmly believe, a Report like this does not come from the work of an individual, but is the result of many people working together across the University towards a common outcome.

There are areas identified in the Report which require attention and these will be addressed through our Continuous Quality Improvement Cycle and conveyed to AUQA in a Progress Report required by September 2006.

To thank you for your contribution to this excellent outcome, celebratory morning or afternoon teas, at a time to be advised, will be held at each campus.

With best wishes

Professor Sally Walker
Vice-Chancellor