The Evaluation System at UniSQ consists of several key components designed to ensure continuous quality enhancement in coursework curriculum. These components include:
- Sentinel Indicators: The use of sentinel indicators, derived from student feedback surveys and performance metrics, serves as early warning signs of potential issues in courses and programs. These indicators trigger program and course enhancement conversations, prompting in-depth examinations and discussions to identify areas for improvement.
- Data Reports and Dashboards: easy access to live, accurate data for all staff plays a crucial role in the UniSQ Evaluation System, providing valuable insights and facilitating evidence-based decision-making. These reports and dashboards compile and present data from various sources, including student feedback surveys, course reports, and program reviews. They offer a comprehensive view of the university’s performance, course quality, and program effectiveness. Through visualizations, analytics, and key performance indicators, data reports and dashboards enable stakeholders, including academic staff, program directors, and decision-makers, to access and interpret relevant information easily. This allows for informed discussions and evidence-driven actions, ensuring that the Evaluation System operates on a foundation of reliable and up-to-date data, supporting continuous quality enhancement efforts at UniSQ.
- Course Enhancement Conversations: These conversations are held for courses displaying sentinel indicators. They provide a platform for the teaching team, including course coordinators and school representatives, to analyze survey data and course reports, considering the unique context of each course. The aim is to identify quality issues, discuss potential improvements, and develop action plans.
- Program Review Conversations: Triggered by sentinel indicators related to program-level metrics such as attrition rates and completion counts, program review conversations facilitate the monitoring, review, and enhancement of programs and study components. Program directors and academic staff engage in discussions, guided by program reports, to address issues and implement improvement strategies.
- Annual Program Review: This process involves the evaluation of programs and study components that are not subject to program review conversations. Program directors conduct an annual review considering survey reports, course changes, cohort analysis, and other indicators. The findings inform the Program Review Portfolio and the Faculty Program Portfolio Rolling Strategic Plan, contributing to ongoing curriculum development and accreditation activities.
- Consolidated Program Quality Reporting: Produced annually, these reports consolidates data from surveys, program reviews, and other sources to provide an overview of the university’s program quality. It highlights trends, areas of concern, and student experiences, contributing to evidence-based decision-making and quality enhancement initiatives.
The components have evolved over time to also include a suite of Environmental Analytics Reports, Curriculum Structures Reports & Growth Share Matrix Analyses and Commissioned Evaluation Reports which form an integral part of the UniSQ Evaluation System, focusing on the broader external factors and contextual variables that impact the learning and teaching environment. These reports and matrices consider factors such as regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, industry trends, and emerging pedagogical practices. They provide a comprehensive assessment of the external landscape and help identify potential challenges and opportunities for program and course enhancement. By analyzing the alignment of UniSQ’s curriculum with external benchmarks and best practices, these reports and matrices ensure that the university remains responsive to changing educational needs and maintains its commitment to delivering high-quality education. The information gleaned from these reports serves as a valuable reference point for decision-making, strategic planning, and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring that UniSQ’s programs and courses stay relevant and meet the evolving needs of students and stakeholders in the dynamic higher education landscape.
These components work together to ensure a comprehensive evaluation framework that considers both course-level and program-level perspectives. By utilizing sentinel indicators, conducting conversations, and engaging stakeholders, the Evaluation System promotes continuous improvement and supports the delivery of high-quality education at UniSQ.
