A/2.4 Quality and standards framework

Policy Owner	Director, Governance and Performance
Approval Date	18/12/2020
Approval Authority	Council
Date of Next Review	31/12/2025

2.4.1 Purpose
2.4.2 Application
2.4.3 Roles and responsibilities
2.4.4 Quality principles
2.4.5 Quality improvement cycle
2.4.6 Definitions
Related Documents
Modification History

2.4.1 Purpose

QUT’s Quality and Standards Framework is intended to guide quality assurance activities, promote continuous improvement and ensure alignment or compliance with relevant external standards, including Australian higher education standards. By utilising the quality principles along with the Quality Improvement Cycle of Approach, Deployment, Results, Improvement (ADRI), QUT’s approach to quality aims to support sustainable organisational development, establish good practices and achieve the University’s goals and priorities articulated in Connections - the QUT Strategy 2023 to 2027

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2.4.2 Application

This policy applies to all quality assurance, continuous improvement and compliance activities undertaken by the University and encompasses all areas of University activity, including:

corporate and academic governance
University management
student participation, learning and support
environments for learning and teaching, and research
learning and teaching
research and research training
representation, external engagement and reputation management
information and communications management.

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2.4.3 Roles and responsibilities

Quality assurance, improvement and compliance with higher education standards is the responsibility of all stakeholders within the University and all policies and procedures of the University contribute wholly, or in part, to quality and regulatory requirements. The high-level roles and responsibilities for quality assurances activities are provided in the following table, including the governance arrangements for the reporting of quality initiatives.

Position	Responsibility
Council	provides corporate governance to all of QUT’s quality assurance, improvement and compliance activities. Council approves the Quality and Standards Framework policy
University Academic Board	provides academic governance to all of QUT's quality assurance, improvement and compliance activities
Other University committees	provide advice, as required, to Council and University Academic Board, in relation to relevant QUT quality assurance, improvement and compliance activities
Vice-Chancellor and President	accountable to Council for quality assurance, improvement and compliance with higher education standards across all aspects of the University’s management and operations
Provost/Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor	responsible for quality assurance, improvement and compliance with relevant higher education standards relating to academic governance, including oversight of learning and teaching, and research and research training quality activities
Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Vice-Presidents and Pro-Vice-Chancellors	responsible for quality assurance, improvement and compliance with relevant higher education standards relating to specific areas of their portfolios, including: learning and teaching, and student support and success; research, research training and innovation; and international education and development
Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar	responsible for quality assurance, improvement and compliance with relevant higher education standards relating to corporate governance, and where activities relate to specific areas of the portfolio is the primary responsible officer (A/1.3.4) for compliance with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Act 2011 (Cwth)
Vice-President (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer	responsible for quality assurance, improvement and compliance with relevant higher education standards relating to financial management, information and communications technology and specific areas of the portfolio
Vice-President (Digital) and Chief Digital Officer	responsible for quality assurance, improvement and compliance with relevant higher education standards relating to information and communications technology and specific areas of the portfolio
Executive deans	responsible for leading the approach to quality assurance and improvement activities, as well as ensuring compliance with relevant higher education standards, within their organisational areas
Heads of portfolios, departments and independent sections	responsible for implementing the University's quality system, quality assurance, continuous improvement and compliance with relevant higher education standards, within the School, organisational unit/s or University-wide functional areas that they lead
QUT community	responsible for contributing to quality assurance and continuous improvement at QUT, including implementing the University’s quality system and compliance with higher education standards as they relate to their respective area/s of operation

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2.4.4 Quality principles

The following quality principles along with the Quality Improvement Cycle form QUT’s Quality and Standards Framework for quality assurance, improvement and compliance with higher education standards.

Leadership and Governance

Ensuring activities are led by the senior officer/s with the highest level of responsibility and are governed by Council and its committees, in order to provide strategic oversight of quality and compliance activities.

Strategy and Planning

Aligning initiatives with the University’s intent, goals and priorities as articulated in QUT's Connections - the QUT Strategy 2023 to 2027 and any supporting strategic statements.

Evidence-Based

Using evidence-based practice and utilising qualitative information and quantitative data to identify improvement opportunities, monitor impact and evaluate the effectiveness of quality initiatives.

External Reference Points

Using external reference points and higher education sector benchmarks to inform the development and review of plans, policies, procedures, practices and new initiatives.

Collaborative Partnerships

Embracing a collaborative and inclusive approach where the University community and partners’ participation and feedback informs all phases of the Quality Improvement Cycle.

Clients and Partners

Actively engaging with the University community, and external clients and partners to ensure that initiatives reflect their needs and that University services are designed with the end-users in mind, as well as providing timely support and accurate information to staff and students relevant to their current or future studies, research and other engagement activities.

People and Culture

Supporting all staff and students in the pursuit of quality and maintenance of standards to create a culture of continuous improvement across the University that is embedded in everyday practices.

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2.4.5 Quality improvement cycle

QUT uses the Approach, Deployment, Results, Improvement (ADRI) Quality Improvement Cycle to provide a systematic and structured method to continually improve current performance, refine changes and provide insight to future success.

Approach (A)
The Approach dimension relates to the intent of the improvement activity and requires planning or designing the approach by:

clarifying the purpose or intent
developing a plan
understanding the needs of key stakeholders
setting goals and predicting outcomes - the achievement of the University’s goals and priorities
ensuring the approach aligns with Connections - the QUT Strategy 2023 to 2027 and supporting strategic statements
designing strategies, structures and processes to meet the outcomes and to track progress
identifying measures of success
adopting an evidence-based approach.

Deployment (D)
The Deployment dimension relates to bringing the plan and resources into effective action by:

prioritising the potential area/s for improvement
implementing the plan
collecting additional evidence and information
communicating with staff, students and other stakeholders
reporting on progress
integrating with current practices, where possible.

Results (R)
The Results dimension focuses on completing the analysis, monitoring and evaluating the outcomes by:

analysing the trends developed as part of the Approach
measuring the effectiveness of the Approach and its Deployment by monitoring the impact of the Results against the goals, predictions and measures of success
making adjustments based on the Results and best-known or benchmarked performance.

Improvement (I)
The Improvement dimension focuses on identifying opportunities and areas for continuous improvement by:

evaluating each of the A-D-R dimensions to bring about improvements
examining the processes used to review and improve the activity
reviewing and adapting the Approach and its Deployment to achieve improvements to the Results.

Internal and external sources to support the use of the ADRI Quality Improvement Cycle are accessible from the related documents below.

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2.4.6 Definitions

Quality assurance is defined as the activities and management processes used to ensure that the services and quality of higher education provision meet the University’s goals and priorities and the requirements of the sector, including complying with quality-related standards.

Quality improvement is described as the activities and management processes in place to systematically and continuously improve the provision of higher education.

Higher education standards refer to the Higher Education Standards (HES) Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 established by TEQSA under the TEQSA Act 2011 and any other codified quality-related standards applicable to Australian universities.

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Modification History

Date	Sections	Source	Details
20.04.21	A/2.4.3	Director, Governance, Legal and Performance	Inclusion of Chief Information Officer as a responsible officer
10.12.20	All	Director, Planning, Reviews and Quality	Periodic review - minor revisions only resulting from changes to the organisational structure (effective 31.01.21)
18.12.18	A/2.4.3, A/2.4.6	Director, Governance and Legal Services	Editorial amendments resulting from changes to the organisational structure
11.10.17	All	Council	Policy simplified and updated to include TEQSA references and new HES Standards
24.08.11	All	Council	Periodic review - Policy revised
20.10.10	All	Council	Policy reviewed and modified in response to the renewal of the Blueprint, rationalisation of the top-level plans and changes to the Planning framework (A/2.2)
10.12.08	All	Council	Revised QUT Quality Framework (endorsed by Planning and Resources Committee 05.11.08 and Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee 09.10.08)
07.07.04	All	Planning and Resources Committee	Revised QUT Quality Framework (replaces former Appendix 37 Quality Management System) (endorsed by Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee 24.06.04 and University Academic Board 25.06.04)

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