A/4.1 Principal officers and organisational structure

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4.1.1 Management of the University
4.1.2 Vice-Chancellor
4.1.3 Principal officers
4.1.4 Other senior officers
4.1.5 QUT organisational structure and definitions
4.1.6 Academic organisational structure
4.1.7 Non-academic organisational structure
4.1.8 Responsibility for establishment of organisational units
4.1.9 Naming of organisational units
Related Documents
Modification History

4.1.1 Management of the University

Section 9 of the Queensland University of Technology Act 1998 (QUT Act) specifies that QUT Council is responsible for the appointment of the University’s staff, and the management and control of its affairs, property and finances. QUT Council delegates most operational aspects of this role to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior officers.

Further information on the appointment, responsibilities, delegations and reporting requirements of Council members and senior University officers is contained in the QUT Act, the Schedule of Authorities and Delegations, QUT Council Procedures and on the Human Resources website.

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4.1.2 Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive officer of the University, responsible to QUT Council for:

• promoting the interests and goals of the University and advancing its development and organisational values;
• providing leadership to the University; and
• the management and operation of the University, including its academic, administrative, financial and other functions.

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4.1.3 Principal officers

Deputy vice-chancellors and heads of division are responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for the overall leadership, management and administration of their areas of responsibility. These positions are as follows.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for the management of the academic functions of the University, including overseeing the academic faculties. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) acts for the Vice-Chancellor in that officer’s absence.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development) is head of the Division of International and Development, and is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for leading the University's international, development and engagement activities.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) is head of the Division of Research and Commercialisation, and is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for leading the University's research and commercialisation agendas.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for leading improvements and advancements in teaching and learning quality in the University.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support) is head of the Division of Technology, Information and Learning Support, and is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for leading and coordinating the University's technology, information and learning support functions.

Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning
The Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning is head of the Division of Finance and Resource Planning, and is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for the finances and planning functions of the University.

Registrar
The Registrar is head of the Division of Administrative Services, Secretary to Council and the chief administrative officer of the University, responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for the administration of the University.

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4.1.4 Other senior officers

Senior officers are responsible for the overall leadership, management and administration of their areas of responsibility. These positions are as follows.

Executive dean of faculty
An executive dean of faculty is responsible to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for the leadership, management and integration of the activities of schools and centres of the faculty and for promoting a sense of unity, cooperation and common purpose within the faculty.

Assistant dean
An assistant dean is responsible to the executive dean of faculty for strategic leadership of the relevant function within the faculty (eg learning and teaching, research, international and engagement).

Head of school
A head of school is responsible to the executive dean of faculty for academic and administrative leadership of the school. Within the Creative Industries Faculty, the positions of portfolio director and Assistant Dean, Research equate to head of school.

Department / independent section manager
A department / independent section manager is responsible to the head of division for the operation and management of the department / independent section.

Faculty research centre director
A faculty research centre director is responsible to the executive dean of faculty for the coordination of research and doctoral programs in areas relevant to the faculty research centre.

Institute director
An institute director is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor, through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), for the achievement of the institute's objectives, and for leadership and management of the institute.

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4.1.5 QUT organisational structure and definitions

QUT is organised into a number of academic and non-academic organisational units. Refer to Appendix 5 for QUT’s organisational structure.

QUT has defined the following organisational units.

Faculty
A faculty is a formal grouping of academic programs, schools, centres, or any combination of these, drawn together for educational purposes and/or administrative efficiency and convenience.

School
A school is a formal grouping of academic and non-academic staff, physical facilities and equipment, which is aggregated in order to conduct courses identified with specific professions or disciplines. Schools are responsible for teaching, consulting, research and community service, and for associated professional activities.

Division
A division is a formal grouping of a number of departments, sections and/or independent sections drawn together for the purpose of coordinating activities and for administrative efficiency and convenience. A division is characterised by complexity of operation and responsibility for the provision of a wide range of administrative and/or educational support services.

Department
A department is a formal grouping of a number of staff, physical facilities and equipment, which is responsible for a major functional area of administrative or educational services. Departments are normally part of a division and may contain sections.

Section
A section is a formal grouping of a relatively small number of staff, physical facilities and equipment, which is responsible for the performance of a discrete set of activities. Sections are normally part of a department. However, a number of sections within the University are classified as 'independent sections' and have similar responsibilities to a department, but on a smaller scale.

Institutes and centres
QUT also has research institutes (D/4.1) and research centres (D/4.2 and D/4.3) which contribute to the University's research agenda and capacity.

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4.1.6 Academic organisational structure

The organisation of QUT's academic areas is based on identifiable areas of mutual interest which are grouped into faculty and school units. Research activities are pursued through research centres and groups within faculties. Major interdisciplinary research activities are pursued through institutes. Policy on organisation of research centres and institutes is set out in D/1.2 and D/4 .

QUT is organised into the academic faculties of:

• Business
• Creative Industries
• Education
• Health
• Law
• Science and Engineering.

All faculties, except the Creative Industries Faculty, comprise schools responsible for the conduct of courses in specific disciplinary or professional areas. The Creative Industries Faculty operates with three portfolios, housing eight disciplines.

Faculty and school status is determined on the basis of an appropriate mix of such factors as:

• the educational, administrative and economic advantages which would flow to QUT from such an organisational arrangement;
• size (staff, EFTS, EFTSL);
• number, complexity and diversity of courses and facilities;
• coherence and homogeneity of courses with respect to professional or disciplinary orientation;
• number, range and diversity of professional affiliations;
• level of research, consulting and fundraising activity;
• identified need for leadership at executive dean of faculty or head of school level respectively.

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4.1.7 Non-academic organisational structure

Non-academic areas of the University are grouped into units designated as sections, departments and divisions.

QUT is organised into the non-academic areas of:

• Chancellery
• Division of Administrative Services
• Division of Finance and Resource Planning
• Division of International and Development
• Division of Research and Commercialisation
• Division of Technology, Information and Learning Support.

The status of sections, departments and divisions is determined on the basis of the administrative efficiency, service provision and economic advantages which flow to the University from such an organisational arrangement as well as such factors as:

• size students, staff, public and facilities serviced; staff employed; records maintained; transactions performed);
• number, complexity and diversity of activities performed;
• number, size, diversity and complexity of facilities, equipment and systems used.

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4.1.8 Responsibility for establishment of organisational structure

QUT Council, acting on advice from University Academic Board, is responsible for the establishment, monitoring and closure of centres, institutes, schools and faculties. Proposals to amend the structure of academic areas can be initiated by individual organisational units or by a number of organisational units jointly.

The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the creation and dissolution of sections, departments and divisions.

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4.1.9 Naming of organisational units

QUT Council has determined that in naming organisational units, due regard be given to persons who have been associated prominently with the University, including major financial contributors. Council intends that names only be considered as the occasion arises or otherwise warrants.

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Related Documents

MOPP D/4.5 Appointment of centre and institute directors

MOPP Appendix 3 Schedule of Authorities and Delegations

MOPP Appendix 5 QUT Organisational Structure

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Modification History

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