External Referencing – Academic Policy

1. Purpose

1.1 Consistent with the University’s Quality and Standards Framework, the University undertakes external referencing as part of its commitment to quality assurance and quality improvement, contributing to its alignment and compliance with the Higher Education Standards Framework.

1.2 This policy identifies the requirements for and the purpose, scope and nature of external referencing.

1.3 This policy must be read in conjunction with the External Referencing – Procedures.

2. Scope and application

2.1 This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs and courses, with a particular focus on program and course design, assessment methods, analysis of student performance data and professional accreditation standards where relevant.

2.2 This policy does not apply to national benchmarking activity undertaken by the Insights and Analytics Unit, or process benchmarking that may be undertaken by various work units from time to time.

3. Definitions

3.1 Refer to the University’s Glossary of Terms for definitions as they specifically relate to policy documents.

External Referencing is a method of monitoring quality through external indicators to inform improvements, external referencing encompasses benchmarking of student performance data, program design, external peer review of assessment and professional accreditation.

Benchmarking is a process measuring performance or practices against accepted standard or reference points to identify good practice and inform improvements. Benchmarking can be undertaken as a desktop exercise using publicly available information, or against external standards, or collaboratively with another department or institution.

Peer Review of Assessment is an improvement-focused process conducted to review assessment practices and grade outcomes, in selected courses, by academics delivering similar programs. The activity can be singular or reciprocal.

Professional Accreditation is the assessment and validation by a professional body that a program includes required knowledge and skills for graduates of the program to be eligible to be admitted/seek registration to practice and/or seek admission to membership of the professional body.

4. Principles

4.1 External referencing

4.1.1 External referencing involves comparing our operations and practices against those of other higher education providers or against external reference points.

4.1.2 External reference points can include, but are not limited to:

1. the Australian Qualifications Framework;
2. the University’s Strategic Plan;
3. the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards);
4. relevant Codes of Practice;
5. discipline learning outcome threshold standards;
6. external professional accreditation standards and requirements;
7. employer feedback and input from External Advisory Committees;
8. the requirements for postgraduate study in the discipline or profession concerned;
9. learning outcomes for equivalent programs and courses at other institutions;
10. student performance data for another university, group of universities, by field of education or at the national level; and
11. formal feedback provided by an external peer reviewer.

4.1.3 The intention of external referencing is to evidence the quality of the University’s programs and courses and to inform improvements.

4.1.4 There are a variety of methods for external referencing, including program benchmarking, professional accreditation, peer review of assessment and moderation.

4.2 External referencing and the program review cycle

4.2.1 The University’s quality assurance processes for all programs are centred around the program review cycle, with all programs undergoing external review every five-years, supported by program and course benchmarking undertaken in the year prior to the program review.

4.2.2 Program benchmarking will be undertaken for all programs at the Bachelor and Master program level, other than for double degrees. Benchmarking of sub-bachelor and nested postgraduate programs will only be required where they do not form part of a higher award program.

4.2.3 Program benchmarking must include analysis of the following data:

1. attrition, progression and completion times and rates, including where applicable by location of delivery and other cohort groups;
2. industry feedback via the relevant External Advisory Committee; and
3. program design and expected program learning outcomes (except for those programs which have undertaken such benchmarking over the previous five years as part of the professional accreditation process).

End