Self-review for higher education institutions

This report had its beginnings in a workshop organised in 2006 by the Australian Universities Quality Agency called 'Self-reviews for effecting change', which produced ideas about codifying the underlying principles and good practices. It provides access to this experience and aims to inform the implementation of self-review activities in the specific context of Australian higher education. The report is presented in two parts. The first, by Robyn Adams, is a general account of principles and processes, with some personal reflections and insights from the literature. The second part provides an extended account of program and school review processes at the University of Queensland. The general principles described in the publication are applicable to higher education institutions of all sizes, not only universities and larger institutions. While the processes need to be scaled to take account of the size, complexity, range of disciplines and types of students at the individual provider, the following principles in particular are important for any successful self-review: clarity of purpose and scope; an emphasis on review for improvement; appropriate timing and resourcing; authenticity; engagement of stakeholders and building the trust needed for active reflection and self-disclosure; more than one reviewer; transparency in processes and in reporting outcomes; and normalising expectations around self-reviews (i.e. self-review as a standard feature of institutional practice).

This report had its beginnings in a workshop organised in 2006 by the Australian Universities Quality Agency called 'Self-reviews for effecting change', which produced ideas about codifying the underlying principles and good practices. It provides access to this experience and aims to inform the implementation of self-review activities in the specific context of Australian higher education. The report is presented in two parts. The first, by Robyn Adams, is a general account of principles and processes, with some personal reflections and insights from the literature. The ...  [+] Show more