Quality Enhancement Committee

Members

Prof Judyth Sachs (Chair), DVC Prof Jim Piper, DVC (Research) (Provost) Ms Deidre Anderson, Exec Director Mr Chris Searchfield, Academic Director , Macquarie City Campus Experience Campus Ms Maxine Brodie, University Librarian Prof John Simons, Exec Dean, Arts Prof Julie Fitness, Vice-President, Mr Tim Sprague, Director HR Academic Senate Mr David Fryda, Acting Director, Ms Alison Taylor, Exec Director, International Programs Macquarie Analytics Prof Mark Gabbott, Exec Dean, Business Prof Stephen Thurgate, Exec Dean, Science & Economics Prof Janet Greeley, Exec Dean, Human Ms Judith Trembath, General Counsel Sciences Mr Colin Hawkins, Academic Registrar Ms Caroline Trotman, DVC (Development and External Relations) Ms Sonia Jeffares, Principal SIBT Ms Zoe Williams, Manager Quality Assurance, M.I.

http://www.mq.edu.au/quality/qec.htm In Attendance Ms Barb McLean, Executive Officer Ms Jennifer Peasley for Ms Maxine Brodie Prof Lucy Taksa for Prof Mark Gabbott

Apologies Ms Maxine Brodie, University Librarian Prof Mark Gabbott, Exec Dean, Business and Economics Mr Colin Hawkins, Academic Registrar Prof Jim Piper, DVC (Research) Ms Zoe Williams, Manager Quality Assurance , M.I.

Minutes 11.00-12.30p.m. Thursday 11th February 2010, Function Room, level 2, E11A

1. Minutes of the Meeting 19th November 2009 and Business Arising - Adopted 2. Strategy and Policy 2.1 Teaching Standards Project JS Prof Sachs informed the meeting that the ALTC has been working on teaching standards, but at the level of the discipline. Prof Sachs has contacted the new CEO of the ALTC, Dr Carol Nicoll, to inform her of the work underway at Macquarie. 2.2 Moderation Project JS The Federal Government appears to be favouring an exit test for University graduates. In order to avoid the temptation of teaching to the test rather than assessing the achievement of graduate capabilities, Prof Sachs has been communicating with Prof Geoff Scott at UWS about developing a project on the Moderation of Assessment. They are currently engaging other universities with the aim of developing a common language. 2.3 Benchmarking Policy and Procedures

of 3 Ms McLean informed the meeting that the development of the Benchmarking for Quality Assurance Procedure was a recommendation of the August 2009 meeting of the Quality Enhancement Committee. She called on members to consult the draft Procedure within their areas and to supply any feedback to Ms McLean by 11th March, to be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting. Adopted

Prof Sachs requested that faculties and offices supply information on the benchmarking undertaken in 2009 and that planned for 2010-2012. Adopted

3. Reviews 3.1 MGSM – EQUIS Accreditation, Self-Evaluation Review WMcG Next week MGSM will host the EQUIS re-accreditation panel. The last EQUIS accreditation saw MGSM accredited for 5 years – one of the few institutions to achieve this. While this level of accreditation is a large investment, it is a lever for change. In the next few years both MGSM and FBE will be undertaking AACSB accreditation. 3.2 Review of Institute of Early Childhood & Dept of Education JG It is unusual to have a combined Review, however due to the overlap in programs that is now occurring and a significant financial issue the Exec Dean felt that there were opportunities for collaboration. Collaboration was an additional TOR and many recommendations reflect opportunities to collaborate in staffing, teaching, marketing, research and practicum. It was recommended that the Exec Dean meet with the Departments before an abbreviate version of the Report is placed on the Web. Prof Greeley reported some issues with the current Procedures for Reviews. Recommendations for change included:  A scale of remuneration is required for Chairs of Panels according to the size of department and whether they are required to draft the Review Report  Prior to the Review Report going onto the Web, copies need to be seen by the relevant department  Until a staff intranet is in place, Exec Summaries and Recommendations from Reports are to be placed on the Web  How do we manage a poor Review Report?  If a Recommendation is not accepted there should be a statement which accompanies the Report of the Exec Dean to the QEC 3.3 AUQA2 Progress Report JS Macquarie’s Progress Report is to be available 12 months from the date of the Review Report being made public. Up until then, progress against Affirmations and Recommendations will be made to Council. The Report in the meeting papers is the February report to Council.

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4. Any Other Business The Chair told the meeting that this would be Mr Fryda’s last meeting as he is taking up a position external to the University. She thanked him for his contribution to the University; his work has positively impacted on quality enhancement across the University. The Chair also informed the meeting that for the next week and a half she would be absent from the University - chairing the panel to review a university in Oman.

5. Next Meeting: 11.00-12.30p.m. Thursday 25th March 2010 in Function Room E11A