Please Note: In 2010, as part of the Quality and Standards Framework, the University resolved to introduce five-yearly reaccreditation of courses by Academic Board to help ensure Teaching Quality. Reaccreditation will focus on course performance and improvement. Together with other measures such as course advisory groups, regular reaccreditation will replace Course Group Reviews as a quality assurance process. Policy and procedures are being developed for implementation in 2012.

Background to Course Group Reviews

The purpose of Course Group Reviews is to provide quality assurance and to facilitate quality improvement with respect to courses offered by the University.

Course Groups are agreed groups of related undergraduate and (post)graduate courses together with their constituent units. Course Groups:

1. reflect disciplinary and professional boundaries;
2. reflect the University's organisational structures;
3. are small enough in number to be manageable with respect to a regular external review process; and,
4. are large enough in number to allow for detailed expert examination of the curricula.

A review of a Course Group will normally take place at least once every five years though they may be initiated at any time.

See also Special Purpose Academic Reviews (SPARs).

The review process consists of the following seven (7) stages:

1. The production of a Course Group Review Submission by the relevant academic organisational unit(s).
2. A Course Group Review conducted by a Review Panel appointed by the Chair of Academic Board on behalf of the Board and chaired by the Chair of Academic Board (or nominee).
3. The production of a Course Group Review Report by the Review Panel.
4. A Response to the Recommendations contained in the Course Group Review Report, including an Implementation Plan, with consideration of any resource implications, prepared by the Dean.
5. The Course Group Review Report, Response and Plan considered by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education).
6. The Course Group Review Report, the Response to the Recommendations and Implementation Plan (and any comments provided by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education)) considered by Academic Board and the Response to the Recommendations and Implementation Plan approved by Academic Board.
7. The Faculty annual operational plan will include a progress report on any outcomes from the Implementation Plan.

Please note: Many of the downloadable documents are restricted to members of the University, who will be prompted for a UC network user name and password.

A simplified and streamlined review process (PDF format 38kb) for Course Group Reviews to be undertaken during 2010 was endorsed by Academic Board at Meeting No. 10/4 (12 July 2010) and the Vice-Chancellor’s Group Meeting No. 2010/06 (7 April 2010). Information on the full review process approved by Academic Board at Meeting No. 08/4 (21 July 2008) is available from the Secretary of Academic Board.

Currently approved composition of Course Groups (PDF format 145kb).

Current Course Groups and Current Review Schedule

Current Course Groups Review documentation may be found here.

The Current Review Schedule may be found here.

Contact:

For information regarding the Course Group Review process or a particular review please contact, in the first instance, the Secretary of the University's Academic Board:

Stephen HARDING
University of Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: +61 (0)2 6201 2409
Email: Stephen.Harding@canberra.edu.au