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Fact Sheet (for latest Fact Sheets please go to Fact Sheets 2004)

16. A New Accountability Framework

• Structure of the new framework

• 1. Organisational Sustainability

• 2. Achievements in higher education provision

• 3. Quality of outcomes

• 4. Compliance

• Bilateral Discussions

• Contact Details

Accountability is a fundamental aspect of public administration. As large amounts of taxpayers’ funds support the higher education sector, the Commonwealth has an obligation to ensure it gets value for the money it spends and to hold the recipients of those funds accountable for their use.

Currently, the annual Educational Profiles process – descriptions of a university’s activities provided by the university in a form approved by the Commonwealth Minister – is the main mechanism for ensuring accountability, quality and fairness. The annual Profiles process is required under the existing Higher Education Funding Act 1988.

A new accountability framework has been developed, based on a more strategic bilateral engagement with each institution, underpinned by what will be known as the ‘Institution Assessment Framework’ that clearly articulates the Commonwealth’s accountability requirements.

This framework will support the Commonwealth’s commitment to reduce the amount of reporting required of institutions.

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Structure of the new framework

The Institution Assessment Framework (IAF) is founded on the responsibilities of the Commonwealth to ensure that the institutions it funds are sustainable and deliver the outputs for which they are funded, that their outcomes are of a high quality and that they comply with their legal obligations. The IAF produces an across-the-board assessment of institutional achievements based on quantitative and qualitative data from universities and external sources. The Commonwealth’s assessment of an institution will form the basis of strategic bilateral discussions between the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and an individual institution.

The data for the assessment are in large part drawn from information already produced by universities, or already collected routinely from universities.

The Framework has four principal elements:

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1. Organisational Sustainability

The assessment of organisational sustainability will provide assurance that institutions are able to continue delivering the services the Commonwealth is funding. It considers:

• leadership and strategic direction – ensuring that the university’s strategic direction is clear, appropriate for delivering Commonwealth-funded places/programmes, and achievable;

• risk management – ensuring that the university has structures and strategies in place to adequately manage risk; and

• financial accountability – ensuring that the university is financially viable.

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2. Achievements in higher education provision

This element assesses the extent to which institutions have contributed to meeting the Government’s higher education objectives. It considers:

• the provision of student places, and the extent to which the institution has met demand;

• the distribution of places between courses and disciplines;

• adequacy of student access and support; and

• research activity, and how this relates to the institution’s mission and particular strengths.

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3. Quality of outcomes

The Department’s assessment of quality will draw on a range of quality indicators and processes already used in the sector. It will use findings from the Australian Universities’ Quality Agency’s audits, focusing on outcomes.

This quality assessment will be one element of the broader quality assurance arrangements for the sector [see Fact Sheet: Assuring Quality].

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4. Compliance

The compliance assessment ensures that institutions have acquitted their funds (that is, the funds have been used for the purposes for which they have been provided) and that institutions have complied with legislative requirements.

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Bilateral Discussions

Information required under the Institution Assessment Framework will be compiled annually and used systematically in forming the Commonwealth’s assessments of institutions. Detailed bilateral discussions between DEST and individual institutions will occur only biennially unless there is a specific need for additional meetings (for example, if concerns arise from the assessment). Negotiation of places will be done for each institution annually through the Funding Agreements [see Fact Sheet: Commonwealth Grant Scheme - Commonwealth Course Contributions].

DEST officers in specific higher education areas, such as equity, quality, and financial analysis will also visit individual institutions separately, at least once every two years (or as the need arises), to gain a better understanding of institutional specific issues and to develop useful professional networks. These initiatives will generate closer engagement and greater cooperation with each university than is possible under the current Profiles arrangements.

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Contact Details

Media inquiries:

Ross Hampton
Dr Nelson’s Office
Telephone: 0419 484 095

Jane Smith
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 0412 973 411

Other inquiries:

Indhi Emmanuel
Director, Institutional Reporting and Analysis Unit
Higher Education Group
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 02 6240 9626

Website: http://www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au
Email: highered@dest.gov.au

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Any comments or queries should be sent to: highered@dest.gov.au
This page was last updated on Monday, 04 August 2008

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