AUQA report finds UTS operations well on track

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AUQA report finds UTS operations well on track


The University of Technology, Sydney has welcomed the findings of an audit of its operations conducted earlier this year by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA). UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Ross Milbourne said the Audit report demonstrated that strategic directions and initiatives being undertaken by UTS were paying off and that the focus on continuous improvement was working well. The audit report published by AUQA this week commends UTS on ten important areas of its operations, affirms its initiatives and hard work on a further nine counts and provides 13 recommendations in areas in which the University is already taking action. More than 350 people were interviewed during AUQA's visits, including a wide range of UTS staff, students, industry partners, employers, external members of Council and alumni. "We have received commendations and affirmations in important areas such as the framework in which our academic board operates, equity and diversity programs at UTS, cross-campus linkages, commitment to professional practice in our education programs, international student exchange and monitoring of student satisfaction," Professor Milbourne said. "I am pleased that AUQA has also praised the on-going work that has been done to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the University's Council, including changes to many of its committees and a greater role in the University's strategic planning. "Since 2001 UTS has taken important steps to enhance the operation of Council, including an annual planning retreat, an induction program for new Council members, changes to membership, an Audit and Review Committee Charter, and a formal annual cycle of business. "UTS has fostered a commitment among staff to ongoing quality review and this has clearly contributed to the outstanding response from AUQA. The fact that most of the recommendations to UTS in the AUQA report acknowledged ongoing work already being done by the University on a number of issues was very encouraging and constructive." Professor Milbourne said he was proud of the great commitment shown by UTS staff assisting the AUQA representatives carrying out the audit and he thanked the many people who participated in interviews here and overseas. "This has been an invaluable opportunity for UTS to take stock of operations, measure its successes and find new opportunities for ongoing improvement and personal reward among its staff," he said. Wednesday 13 September 2006