Quality Partnering

Who we are

The Quality Partnering team are based mainly in Schools to support you with the necessary understanding of all quality processes, including moderation, evaluation, and monitoring. The team partners with Heads, Academic Programme Managers/Academic Leaders, and Lecturers.

Our AAQs (Administrator, Academic Quality) provide efficient and effective administrative support to Programmes and Courses in all areas of academic quality assurance. They ensure there is a consistent and uniform approach to academic quality, utilising standard Unitec processes across all academic offerings. The team also focus on:

making sure that records and documentation are accurate, up to date, and compliant;
supporting Programme Academic Quality Committees (PAQCs) in their work;
assisting you with Grade Approvals and Qualification completions.

They are supported by three Academic Quality Specialists who provide expert subject matter advice across the team. The Specialists are specifically responsible for managing pan-institutional processes such as

ensuring that all documents and information for Degree Monitoring, Consistency Review and Programme Review are in place and deployed as required;
the processes associated with Moderation of Unit and Achievement Standards are completed within agreed timelines;
providing advice and support to PAQC meetings;
monitoring the Grade Approvals process to ensure it is effective;
monitoring the Completions process to ensure that it is effective;
ensuring that the E-Academic Library is kept up to date with accurate and timely information; and
reviewing our processes and systems to seek continual improvement.

The Specialists work together with the Quality Partnering Team Lead who has specific responsibilities to proactively engage with relevant staff to champion academic quality and evaluative practice.

Our collective aim is to lead the development and implementation of key quality improvement processes to support and enhance capability across the institute ensuring that:

Teaching staff are supported in all academic quality related matters;
Academic quality processes are supported; and
Evaluative capability across the institute is enhanced.

What we do

The following are the main areas that we support:

Maintain the quality of grade management system, including:

setting up of Gradebook and other programme related systems in accordance with approved course requirements
managing grades ratification process and publishing within specified timeframes
following up and resolving missing and deferred grades
processing changes of grades
managing exclusion & at-risk student reporting process

Administer the programme completions processes, including:

identification of potential graduands
approvals to Academic Board
letters of completion (LOC)
supporting the processing of Cross Credits, APL & VOE

Support administration of Programme Academic Quality Committees (PAQCs), and agreed sub-committees, including:

agenda preparation and management (Incl. update of key quality data sets)
document production and distribution
meeting logistics and minute taking as required (in collaboration with School BAs as appropriate)
communication routines incl. distribution of minutes and decisions, and follow up of assigned action items
advise and guide committees on the policy, procedures and processes associated with quality assurance while ensuring the accuracy and consistency in the application of committee decisions.

Assist programme leadership in the development of annual quality and compliance plans for programmes and courses.

Monitor for improvement of academic standards in programmes and courses and provide accurate and relevant data on key metrics.

Advise and guide Academic Staff on the processes associated with curriculum development, including:

review of course descriptors and regulations
the programme improvement process, including documentation, evidence and quality
support for the Programme Development Group (PDG) established by each PAQC

Manage collation and deployment of key documents and data sets to support:

degree monitoring
consistency review
regulatory body/professional accreditation
programme review
and other quality activity, events and processes

Maintain academic records and associated documentation in accordance with institute protocols, including:

records of academic quality assurance
course descriptors/ MCD
key programme documents
on-line programme handbooks

Assist in the administration of student evaluation of courses and teaching including:

communication with academic staff to arrange a schedule for deployment
ensuring schedule is completed
dissemination of agreed action plans to students via the student handbook

Contribute to the continuous improvement of academic support systems that support the ongoing evaluation and improvement of learning and teaching, including:

development of best practice processes and systems relating to administrative functions
effective document management using appropriate technologies as required
effective communication routines
quality reporting