Planning and Review

• Introduction
• The Plan, Implement, Review, Improve (PIRI) Cycle
• Schools and Administrative Units Cyclical Reviews
• Related Documents

Introduction

Quality assurance at UWS is embedded in the University’s ongoing strategic and operational planning, accreditation, reporting and review processes. The University endeavours to ensure the core activities of learning, research and engagement are working productively with the direct support of enabling services including the library, student services, information technology, financial management and student administration to achieve its mission and strategic directions.

The Plan, Implement, Review, Improve (PIRI) Cycle

The University recognises that planning, implementation, review and improvement are ongoing. The UWS Planning, Reporting and Review Cycle (opens in a new window)(PDF, 18Kb) outlines our rolling cycle.

The PIRI principles are implemented through a cyclical process of:

• planning, including setting a new strategic direction or a key improvement to current practice, on the basis of internal and/or external review
• implementing the plan and monitoring the results against agreed performance measures
• reviewing performance against the data reported and then re-planning
• improvement based on review as well as sustaining those areas of good practice identified as working well during implementation.

For a more detailed outline, please see the Strategic Planning and Review overview (opens in a new window)(PDF, 13Kb).

Planning

UWS uses a 'nested' approach to planning. That is, the University level plan sets parameters within which divisional, college, school and other plans are located. These more specific plans seek to address the University’s strategic priorities in ways which are both relevant and feasible for local conditions.

The approach to strategic planning at UWS is based on research into what constitutes effective and ineffective practice in the area. The focus is on setting a small number of key strategic directions rather than adopting a cascading, linear approach to planning and implementation.

Endorsed by the Board of Trustees, the electronic ‘plan on a page’ UWS Strategy and Plan 2010-2015: Making the Difference (staff login required) is the cornerstone our strategic planning and it captures our key priorities to 2015 and related key performance indicators.

Implementing

The UWS planning framework continues to follow the PIRI cycle endorsed in the Cycle 1 AUQA audit. However, how this operates has been completely reviewed and a more integrated, efficient and IT-enabled model has now been adopted. A steered engagement approach, consistent with research on effective change in higher education, has been adopted.

Under this approach the overall strategic directions of the University are set, along with aligned KPIs and targets and then local academic and professional units develop linked action plans to implement them. The approach is distinctive because it is IT-enabled and integrates strategic positioning, planning, resourcing, review, monitoring and improvement.

Reviewing

UWS uses a combination of reviews to track the extent to which its plans and key strategic objectives are being consistently and effectively implemented. Whenever possible, reviews are embedded into ongoing tracking and improvement systems e.g. the UWS Annual Course Reports. 

UWS has a range of systems to ensure that review processes are informed by data. For example, Learning and Teaching has the UWS Tracking and Improvement System for Learning and Teaching (TILT). University engagement reviews draw upon the UWS engagement database. Research reviews and research training produce a range of tracking and performance reports.

Schools and Administrative Units Cyclical Reviews

There are times when it is strategically important to review a key issue, theme or area for UWS. The University also engages in more formal cyclical reviews (opens in a new window)(PDF, 74Kb) in key areas, for example, school and program reviews.

The following cyclical reviews have been completed (staff login required)(opens in new window) 

Improving

The University has a range of quality assurance processes and support systems in place to ensure that both the key strategic priorities and the recommendations from reviews are addressed promptly and wisely. The approach is based on 25 years of research on effective change implementation in post secondary and higher education (opens in a new window)(PDF, 81Kb).

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Related Documents

• UWS Strategy and Plan 2010-2015: Making the Difference (opens in a new window)(PDF, 104Kb)
• Board of Trustees Strategic Priorities 2015 (opens in a new window)(PDF, 341Kb) 
• Learning and Teaching Plan (opens in a new window)(PDF, 93Kb)
• Research Plan (opens in a new window)(PDF, 92Kb)
• Engagement Plan (opens in a new window)(PDF, 95Kb)
• College of Arts - Strategic Plan (staff login required)
• College of Business - Strategic Plan (staff login required) 
• College of Health and Science - Strategic Plan (staff login required) 
• Shape of the Future - a Structure for UWS in the 21st Century (opens in a new window)(PDF, 1.18Mb) 

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