Annual Report 2008 - Central Queensland University

Strategic
Focus
operational plans will contribute to the University’s strategic direction, forming the
foundation for budget formulation, the expression in monetary terms of the ways
and means of implementing the University’s Plan.
Governance
In 2008, as part of the University’s Organisational Review, the University
commissioned a review of its governance functions, which was undertaken by an
external consultant. One of the recommendations of that review was to strengthen
the operation and support for the governance functions of the University and in
particular Council, Academic Board and associated committees. The Review also
identified, amongst other issues, the need for an assessment of University policy
development and management systems.
In response, a new Governance Division was created in 2008, reporting to the
Executive Director (Corporate Services). The Division enables good governance,
supporting the University’s formal governance structure of Council and Academic
Board and associated corporate responsibilities. This a) ensures sound University
wide policies and processes exist; b) protects the university from legal risk; and c)
maintains the corporate and professional reputation of the University. The Division
is also responsible for the provision of administrative support to Chancellery
Executives, the Records Management Office; and the Graduation and Ceremony
Management Office.
RIO TINTO PARTNERSHIP
Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s
Hail Creek Mine has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with CQUniversity,
designed to help shake the
skills shortage across multiple
disciplines in the Mackay region.
Areas including health and safety,
environmental science, business
and communications, human
resources, engineering, surveying
and geology are all designed
to benefit from the three year
partnership program.
The Organisational Review also recommended a structure that would support
integration of strategic planning and budgetary modeling. The Division of Strategy,
Quality and Review was therefore established, reporting to the Executive Director
(Corporate Services) to provide analysis of the University’s operations, systems,
business processes and performance against selected criteria. In doing so the
Division promotes efficiency, economy and effectiveness of management processes
as well as the reliability and accuracy of University operations.
Review of Academic Governance
Background
The University Council commissioned a Review of Academic Governance at
its meeting in July 2007 in response to Recommendation 2 of the Report of an
Audit of Central Queensland University by the Australian Universities Quality
Agency (AUQA) of 2006. Section 2.2 of the AUQA Audit Report addressed
concerns that “The Academic Board has not provided strong leadership to the
University’s academic community, and has sometimes failed to meet its quorum”.
Recommendation 2 states “AUQA recommends that Central Queensland University
Council develop strategies to ensure it is able to inform and balance its fiduciary
governance responsibilities with its academic governance responsibilities.”
Two external consultants with lengthy experience in academic governance were
invited to undertake the review. At the outset, the consultants sought information on
progress against the recommendations made in a report submitted to the University
in July 2007 (Quality Project Report) in response to the AUQA Audit Report 2006.
One of the terms of reference of the review was to propose “directions to CQU to
provide the Quality Management System” and “address implications for the next
AUQA audit”.
The current review involved interviews with around 100 individuals comprising
Council members, staff and students and confirmed that many of the matters
addressed in the July 2007 Quality Project Report are still of relevance.
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Report
The Review of Academic Governance report made 16 recommendations. All actions
addressing the 16 recommendations were approved by Academic Board or Council
as appropriate.