Quality Assurance- Framework - SCU - Southern Cross University

Quality Assurance Framework

Southern Cross University supports a culture of continuing quality assurance and improvement across its academic, governance and operational activities and processes.

The Quality Assurance Framework is designed to guide and support staff to assure, enhance and improve quality at Southern Cross University. Our Quality Assurance Framework demonstrates our strong commitment to evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement. It guides staff in the activities that contribute to the creation of a University-wide culture of ongoing Quality Assurance and improvement to achieve the University’s strategic objectives and desired outcomes and ensures the University meets it’s legislative and regulatory requirements.

How does Quality Assurance work at SCU?

Quality Assurance Principles

Southern Cross University’s Quality Assurance Principles aim to assure compliance with the legislative requirements under the TEQSA Act 2011, the Higher Education Standards Thresholds (2021), the ESOS Act 2001 and the National Code of Practice 2018.

The University Quality Assurance Principles include:

Ongoing auditing and evaluation of regulatory compliance with the standards required by TEQSA for accreditation as a self-accrediting Australian University and registration on CRICOS to deliver higher education to international students;
Institutional strategic planning aligned with budget processes, key performance targets and quality improvement strategies;
Corporate and academic governance mechanisms that monitor and review against externally benchmarked processes, performance metrics and outcomes to facilitate improvement and aspiration;
Comprehensive internal and external course quality reviews to assure the delivery of industry relevant curriculum that achieves course learning outcomes and graduate attributes;
Contemporary educational approaches informed by the scholarship of learning and teaching
Involvement and feedback encouraged from students and staff to create a culture of quality assurance and improvement;
Data informed, evidence-based decision making and accountability through transparent, ethical information and record keeping practices overseen by an independent, governing Council.

Quality Cycle

The SCU Quality Cycle outlines the phases SCU applies to ensure a structured approach to reviewing and improving quality

Plan

Defining quality requirements according to the regulatory standards and strategic objectives
Determining measures for evaluation
Undertaking risk identification and mitigation
Identifying quality controls
Engaging stakeholders and quality leads with responsibilities for managing controls

Implement

Developing policies, procedures and controls that meet quality requirements and align with sector best practice
Operationalising policies and processes into work units and business practices

Monitor

Recording the results of implementation including the collection and use of feedback and internal audits.
Building a robust, mature repository of evidence

Review

Auditing and assessing business practices against the quality requirements, policies and procedures for efficacy, compliance and best practice
Recommending actions for continuous improvement and quality enhancements

Improve

Implementing recommendations through training, capability uplifting and process improvements
Measuring and evaluating outcomes against anticipated quality improvements

Quality Assurance Policies

SCU policies and procedures support quality assurance by aligning principles and business processes with regulatory compliance requirements and benchmarked practice across the higher education sector.

SCU promotes compliance with its policies and procedures by:

Publishing all formally approved policy documents on the University’s Policy Library.
Requiring all policy documents to be reviewed for currency and accuracy at least every three years.
Regularly notifying staff when new policy documents come into place, or as documents are amended or rescinded.
Identifying risks of non-compliance with University policy as an integral component of the risk management process.