CQUniversity's AUQA Audit document from 2005 and 2010

What is the Performance Portfolio?

The Performance Portfolio is a 20,000-word document that outlines the university's quality system and discusses its effectiveness. The Portfolio also offers evidence to verify its claims.

The rigour and honesty of the self-reflection are crucial, because the Auditors look at the Performance Portfolio from two perspectives. They want to learn about the university's quality system. But from another angle, the Auditors  look at the quality of the self-review and the depth of the analysis itself, and attempting to answer questions such as:

• How thorough and perceptive is this Performance Portfolio?
• Does it show evidence of a genuine, useful self-review, making use of appropriate standards and benchmarks?
• Has the data presented been validated, and, if not, how may the panel do this?
• Does the Portfolio clearly identify strengths and weaknesses?
• Does the Portfolio propose appropriate actions on identified weaknesses?

The AUQA auditors will consider the Performance Portfolio. They will then visit a number of CQUniversity locations and interview representatives of staff, students and community stakeholders. They will also conduct "in situ" interviews while walking around campus. Their published response to the Performance Portfolio will, therefore, take into account documentary evidence as well as the perspectives of CQUniversity people from a wide range of backgrounds, roles and levels.

What is the AUQA Audit Report?

The AUQA Audit report is the published response to the Performance Portfolio that includes considerations based on the visits, interviews and documentary evidence provided.  The report contains commendations, affirmations and recommendations.  A commendation refers to the achievement of a stated goal, or to some plan or activity that has led to, or appears likely to lead to, the achievement of a stated goal, and which in AUQA’s view is particularly significant.  Recommendations refer to areas in need of attention, whether in respect to approach, deployment or results, which in AUQA’s view is particularly significant.  Where these matters have already been identified by the University, with evidence, they are term ‘affirmations’. The AUQA Audit reports can impact externally on a university's accreditation, funding, and reputation.

What is the Progress Report?

This document is provided by the University as a response to the affirmations and recommendations identified by AUQA in its report from the audit.  The progress report outlines the actions taken since the audit to either continue with efforts already undertaken to address shortcomings (affirmations) or in the case of recommendations to address areas AUQA identified as needing further improvement.

Documents from the 2010 Audit:

• Central Queensland University Performance Portfolio 2010
• CQUniversity Status Report 2010
• The AUQA Audit Report February 2011
• Action Plan to implement outcomes from the AUQA Audit report
• TEQSA confirmed on 6 December 2011 that the Central Queensland University Progress Report that would have been due under AUQA in February/March 2012 will not be requested by TEQSA. This is due to the change in the regulatory framework that will be used by TEQSA. Under the new TEQSA regulatory framework, cyclical audits of higher education providers are not necessarily required, Rather, for all higher education providers TEQSA may review or examine any aspect of a provider's operations to assess the level of quality of higher education provision, and whether the provider and its courses continue to meet the required Standards.  

Documents from the 2005 Audit:

• Central Queensland University 2006 AUQA Audit Report
• Central Queensland University 2007 Progress Report