• Section 1 - Purpose and Scope 
• Scope
• Approval and oversight of Quality and Compliance Schedule – Education Partners
• Reports
• Reviews
• Strategic Review
• Quality Review

Section 1 - Purpose and Scope 

(1) These Procedures give effect to the Educational Partnership Policy and outline the quality assurance arrangements for the University’s Educational Collaborations.

Scope

(2) Activities conducted by Governance Services included in the annual internal audit program are outside of the scope of this procedure.

(3) Activities described in this procedure are aligned with the Monitoring and Review Schedule as outlined in the Third Party Arrangements Regulatory Risk Framework, concentrating on the quality assurance phases following the implementation of an agreement.

(4) Course reviews are outside the scope of this procedure and are conducted in accordance with the Academic Quality, Standards and Integrity Policy and Course Review Procedures.

(5) Organisational unit reviews are outside the scope of this procedure and are conducted in accordance with the Organisational Reviews Policy. 

(6) Management committee meetings are conducted in accordance with the Agreement for each arrangement and outside the scope of this procedure.

Approval and oversight of Quality and Compliance Schedule – Education Partners

(7) The Quality Audit and Review Schedule – Education Partners is:

1. managed by Office of Business, Intelligence and Quality;
2. operates on a 2-year rolling schedule;
3. reviewed annually to reflect the University's overall priorities and risk areas; and
4. includes all planned quality and compliance reviews and audits related to Education Partners.   

(8) The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) approves the monitoring and reporting schedule annually to ensure alignment with the Third Party Arrangements Regulatory Risk Framework.

(9) Following approval, the Office of Business Intelligence and Quality (BIQ) present the schedule to the Education Partnerships Oversight Committee for noting.

(10) The Office of Business Intelligence and Quality report on progress against the schedule to the Education Partnerships Oversight Committee quarterly.

(11) The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) will provide a summary of outcomes including risks and issues arising to the subsequent Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Reports

(12) Reports will be finalized and submitted to committees and boards according to the quality and compliance schedules for education partners.

(13) Reports will be acquitted annually by the Office of Business Intelligence and Quality and the outcomes presented to the Education Partnership Oversight Committee, noting where changes have been made to align with strategic and operational needs or continuous improvements.

Reviews

(14) Reviews and monitoring reports are conducted to achieve the following aims:

1. Ensure the effective implementation of quality provisions in Educational Collaboration agreements;
2. Verify that the University’s Educational Collaborations comply with all policy, contractual, and statutory requirements;
3. Monitor the quality and fulfillment of educational objectives in offshore Educational Collaborations;
4. Offer a mechanism for addressing concerns related to student satisfaction or staff issues within Educational Collaborations;
5. Evaluate the implementation of recommendations.
6. Assess compliance with legislative obligations under the National Code and HESF

(15) Reviews are conducted in line with the Third Party Arrangements Regulatory Risk Framework. The responsible party ensure that management responses are obtained for all review reports and provided to the appropriate oversight committee.

(16) Reports are embedded in the schedule of business and agendas for Boards and Committees.

Strategic Review

(17) As per the Third Party Arrangements Regulatory Risk Framework, Strategic Alignment Review – Education Partners is normally conducted annually.

(18) The scope of the strategic review will normally include evaluation of:

1. Key performance indicators
2. Student outcomes
3. Sustainability
4. Compliance
5. Risk and issues

(19) The Office of Business Intelligence and Quality will liaise with relevant stakeholders to prepare the review report including a risk assessment.

(20) The Director, Business Intelligence and Quality (or nominee) will present the review report to the Education Partners Oversight Committee for discussion by members.

(21) The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Innovation) or Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) will provide a summary of the outcomes including relevant risks and issues to the Management Committee Meeting.

(22) The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) will provide a summary of outcomes including risks and issues arising to the subsequent Audit and Risk Management Committee and Vice Chancellor’s Group.

Quality Review

(23) As per the Third Party Arrangements Regulatory Risk Framework, Quality Reviews are normally conducted very two years.

(24) The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) will approve the scope of the review to ensure it considers current strategic priorities, risks and issues.

(25) The Office of Business Intelligence and Quality will liaise with the Academic Portfolio Office to ensure timelines and scope are communicated to all relevant stakeholders.  

(26) The review normally includes the following:

1. Examine a range of documentation including but not limited to:
   1. the educational collaboration agreement;
   2. feedback from relevant University organisational units;
   3. minutes from the management committee and reports as required;
   4. minutes from the Education Partnership Board and reports as required;
   5. feedback from students, including systematic and ad-hoc surveys;
   6. course and unit performance reports;
   7. student performance and comparative grade point averages;
   8. academic staff profile and qualifications;
   9. marketing materials including relevant collaborating institution's website;
   10. course procedures manuals, student handbooks or any other information produced for students in the collaborative program;
   11. courses (overall quality, accreditation and entry level, curriculum, and graduate outcomes);
   12. staff (experience, appointment practices, induction and professional development);
   13. site audit assessment;
   14. administrative processes (general administration, marketing);
   15. outcomes of reviews and audits; and
   16. continuous improvements made since last review.
2. Undertake a site visit to the collaborating institution and interview a range of academic and support staff and students and complete an inspection of the institution's facilities.
3. Complete a Quality Review Report inclusive of management response for acceptance by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Innovation) and the relevant nominee from the partnership.

(27)  Review of academic quality, including equivalence of delivery and learning outcomes, are undertaken by the relevant Faculty in liaison with the Education Collaborator and peer review reports will be presented to the associated Faculty Board and provided for acceptance by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Innovation).

(28) The Director, Business Intelligence and Quality (or nominee) will present the review report to the Education Partners Oversight Committee and Management Committee Meeting.

(29) The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) will provide a summary of outcomes including risks and issues arising to the subsequent Audit and Risk Management Committee and Vice Chancellor’s Group.