School reviews
School reviews are one of the key processes within ECU's quality assurance system. The main purpose of a School review is to enable continuous improvement of a school's teaching and learning, research, engagement and support activities. The process comprises self-assessment by the school, and validation by an external, expert panel. The review addresses performance against ECU's four strategic priorities in the areas of teaching, learning, research, research training, creativity, engagement, and organisational sustainability.
The expertise of an external review panel is used to:
- Assess the national and international standing of the school's activities;
- Strengthen the credibility of the school's self-assessment, and validate or revise the School's findings where necessary;
- Verify that systematic planning, delivery and review activities within the School reliably meet university policies and adhere to national and international good practice standards;
- Contribute towards the school's process of self-learning, and clarify and evaluate how a school defines and measures its effectiveness;
- Identify areas of commendation; and
- Recommend how activities in the school can be improved.
School reviews occur once every five years, according to the school review schedule developed in consultation with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and maintained by the Quality Unit. Quality Unit staff work closely with schools throughout the review process to provide guidance, advice and assistance.
The School Review Guidelines 2008-2012 provide details on the school review process, and the templates are provided as the essential resources to assist schools in conducting productive reviews.
- School Review Guidelines 2008 2012 (PDF File, 340.34 kb)
- Template 1 Self Assessment Portfolio (DOCX File, 996.57 kb)
- Template 2 Panel Site Visit Schedule (DOCX File, 19.83 kb)
- Template 3 Panel Report (DOCX File, 135.80 kb)
- Template 4 School Review Action Plan (DOCX File, 19.74 kb)
- School Review Schedule (PDF File, 62.41 kb)
Self-assessment
A major component of the School Review process is the self-assessment where Schools critically reflect on their performance and outcomes. The self-assessment is an opportunity for the School to involve all staff in open, inclusive and transparent assessments of how well the School is performing, attaining objectives and maintaining standards.
The self-assessment process, used effectively, can reveal gaps between actual results and desired performance levels, constituting opportunities for improvement that underpin and inform the School’s future planning. This meets the Review/ Improve/ Planning components of the Plan/ Do/ Review/ Improve (PDRI) cycle.
The Self-Assessment Portfolio template has been developed specifically as a tool for Schools to examine outcomes in order to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of their systems, processes and practices. This allows Schools to arrive at an informed understanding of their performance, and provides a reliable evidence base for identifying areas for improvement.