Review of Business and Academic Support Departments

One of the components of the University's Quality Enhancement Strategy includes Academic and Business Support Department Review.

Scope

The review will encompass all departmental (or sub-departmental) activities, including current operational aspects and strategic development. The review will also reference the area against practice in other institutions and with appropriate professional organisations.

Characteristics

Reviews will promote dialogue on areas in which quality might be improved, identify good practice for dissemination within the institution, and encourage and support efforts to reflect critically on practice.

Reviews will provide an objective review of provision based on an understanding of national and international good practice.

Reviews will be based on an evaluation of the business process or the service provided as appropriate. top

Process

The Quality Office will facilitate the process and be responsible for the organisation of the event. The specifics of the process will include:

• the preparation of a self-evaluation document by the area being reviewed
• collation of documentation
• review event
• production of a review report
• follow-up action top

The Self-Evaluation Document

A self-evaluation should discuss both the strengths of the provision and areas where improvement is possible and/or desirable. The document is an opportunity to demonstrate how strengths identified in previous years have been built upon, and how any areas for improvement identified have been addressed. Where areas for improvement remain or new areas have emerged, plans for addressing these should be summarised. The Quality Office will provide guidance as required in the preparation of the self- evaluation document. top

The self-evaluation document should cover the following:

a description of the service provided to the University by the department

• a description of the department's strategy to support the Institutional mission, in particular the 2015 vision
• an explanation of how the strategy meets the internal needs of the Institution and also complies with external imperatives of, for example, public legislation and also incorporates the principles of personal and professional integrity
• a description of the human and physical resources available to the department and an analysis of whether both are adequate to enable it to fulfil its role
• an analysis of the views of stakeholders external to the department on the quality of the service provided
• indicators of success and analysis of performance against plans and strategy
• the success of the previous quality enhancement planning top

The Review Event

The time taken for the review event will be determined by the extent of the area being reviewed.

An appropriate senior member of staff will chair reviews. Review panels must include School representation, external peers and may include student representation as appropriate. top

Before the Review Event: timings

The draft self-evaluation document will be submitted to the Quality Office six weeks prior to the review event. The panel will receive the self-evaluation document not later than at least one month prior to the event.

Panel members will submit any comments they may have, including requests to see any additional documentation during the event, to the Quality Office at least two weeks prior to the review.

The Chair of the panel, in conjunction with the Quality Office, will then determine a timetable for the process at least two weeks prior to the review. top

The Review Report

The review report will have a narrative on the success of the Department in addressing the main headings of the self-evaluation document. The report will also identify areas of good practice and areas which require attention. The report will end with a single page summary of the conclusions.  

In the event that the area being reviewed disputes any of the contents of the report, the dispute will be referred in the first instance to the Director of Quality. If a resolution is not possible the matter will be referred to the Principal. top

Follow-up Action

Within one month of the production of the review report the Department will be required to produce a response in the form of an action plan.

The report and action plan will be initially considered and approved by the Chair of the Panel.

The report and the associated action plan will be received by the Learning and Teaching Subcommittee for information. The Professional Services Committee will consider the full report and action plan and will report to the Executive Board.

A follow-up meeting will be held twelve months after the review event by the Chair of the Review Panel. Thereafter the action plan will be monitored via the department's annual plan. top

Last updated: 14 February 2008

Download process

The process and procedures for the review of business and academic support departments is available to print as a word document in Section 3 of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Handbook.