Bulletin

Issue: June 2005

News

Quality audit commends

La Trobe’s student focus.

Chancellor Millis: positive report

As part of the national external quality audit process, the University was audited by the Australian Universities Quality Agency in 2004. The report of the AUQA panel was published in April 2005 and broadly concluded that 'the University has in place systems appropriate to the fulfilment of its mission'. The report also supported the University in a range of initiatives already in place or under development.

Particularly pleasing were the commendations for the office of the University Ombudsman (cited as a possible exemplar for the Australian University sector), the University Counselling Service, the system of postgraduate co-ordinators, the support services for onshore international students and the creation of an equitable working environment.

In addition to this evidence of the student-focused environment the University was commended for its thorough self-review, its strategic planning and budgetary processes and its links with external communities including course advisory committees, regional advisory boards and offshore partnerships. The report also acknowledges the strong tradition of research and research commercialisation in the University.

It also affirms the work being undertaken by the University in developing an inclusive organisational climate through the process currently underway, where activities at the Bendigo campus will be more fully aligned to activities at the University's other seven campuses. The recent developments in the University's Learning and Teaching Plan were also endorsed by AUQA.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Osborne, welcomed the report.

'The provision of good support services for students and an equitable workplace are vital ingredients for a successful university and I am delighted that AUQA has recognised the enormous contribution of both academic and general staff at La Trobe University in this area. In this general context it is pleasing that the value of the University Ombudsman to the University community as a whole has been highlighted.

'I am also extremely pleased that the strenuous efforts of the University in the fields of strategic planning and budgetary management have been commended, and that our initiatives in establishing good relationships with external partners and communities have been acknowledged.'

The Chancellor, Professor Nancy Millis, congratulated Professor Osborne on the positive report.

'The Vice-Chancellor has provided strong leadership to the University in developing the institutional quality framework. Council took a great interest in the preparations for the AUQA audit and the findings of the self review exercise, many of which, as AUQA acknowledges, have already been addressed.'

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Quality & Community), Dr Julie Jackson, said within 18 months of the publication of the audit report the University will provide a progress report against the affirmations and recommendations. 'In the short term the University will prepare an action plan for responses, against which we can report progress in 18 months time.'

The full audit report can be found on the AUQA website.