The UniSQ Evaluation System is designed to streamline the complex process of program and course evaluation and draw attention to potential quality issues throughout its five-to-seven-year cycle. One of its key features is an extensive suite of reports that assist in ongoing monitoring at the course, program, and university levels, providing valuable insights to all staff members within the university.

The Evaluation System incorporates program and course sentinel indicators, program and course enhancement conversations, qualitative Environmental Analytic Scan discipline-level reports, and the UniSQ Graduate Program, resulting in a significant impact at UniSQ. These comprehensive reports empower executive, academic, and professional staff at all levels to make evidence-informed strategic, tactical, and operational decisions.

As mandated by TEQSA, universities conduct internal and external Comprehensive Program Reviews every five to seven years. Sentinel indicators exist for undergraduate and postgraduate programs, focusing on Student Load, Attrition rates, Progression rates, and Completions. Programs meeting any of these indicators are required to report to the Education Committee and Academic Board, engaging in Program and Study Components Review Conversations with the Evaluation Methodologies team.

The Evaluation System also incorporates Environmental Analytic Scans, an innovative tool that provides external reference points and benchmarking data to support curriculum design, accreditation, and re-accreditation. Additionally, the inclusion of qualitative data through environmental scanning of academic, industry, and governmental literature contributes to the accreditation of new programs and offers insights into the broader environment in which disciplines and programs operate. These Environmental Analytic Reports incorporate benchmarking, market analysis, and environmental scanning, considering the unique context of each discipline.

Furthermore, the Evaluation System supports evidence-informed decision-making regarding the current and future viability of academic disciplines in the higher education context. By utilizing qualitative evaluation reports and environmental scanning, it facilitates a data-driven approach to discipline and program discontinuation, which is often underused in Australian higher education institutions where emotional responses tend to dominate such decisions.

The integration of qualitative data also enables the identification of potential opportunities for growth and innovation, supporting UniSQ’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education.