Our Approach to Quality
Welcome to the Quality Management section of the Think: Education Group website. Quality Management at Think: Education Group is a key strategic priority and is led by the Academic Services Division. The Division manages both Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and Higher Education Quality Assurance for all Think: Colleges.
The Academic Services Division ensures Quality Management and the ongoing improvement in all aspects of Think: Colleges including Governance & Strategic Planning, Teaching & Learning and Support Services. The division is also responsible for internal reviews and the coordination of external quality audits by State Accrediting Agencies such as Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) in NSW and the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) audits.
Think: Education Group is an accredited Vocational and Higher Education provider. Although the Vocational and Higher Education quality system in Australia differ in terms of audit arrangements, Think: Education Group ensures quality and consistency by using a single Quality Management Framework. We strongly believe that staff engagement in quality is a key ingredient in creating a superior student experience, it is for this reason Think: Education Group deploys a single framework.
Click here for further information about the framework.
Think: Strategic Planning & Quality Management Framework
AQTF
The Vocational Education & Training (VET) and AQTF compliance and ongoing improvement is headed by the Director of Vocational Education & Training. The Director is supported by Compliance Managers who work with each of the Think: Colleges offering VET courses.
Further information on AQTF can be obtained at: www.vetab.nsw.gov.au
Contacts in relation to VET & AQTF:
Dr. George Brown
Group Academic Director
gbrown@think.edu.au
AUQA Audit
The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) is an independent, not-for-profit national agency that promotes, audits, and reports on quality assurance in Australian higher education. AUQA was formally established by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) in March 2000.
AUQA audited Think: College Pty Ltd on 22, 23 July 2009. The public audit report is now available on AUQA website. AUQA bases its audit on institutional performance assessed against the institution’s objectives, and the criteria set out in the Quality Audit Factors (QAF).
The four Quality Audit Factors (QAF) include:
- Quality Audit Factor 1: Institutional and Educational Objectives and Institutional Governance
- Quality Audit Factor 2: Achieving Effectiveness in Teaching, Learning and other Core Functions
- Quality Audit Factor 3: Organisational Structures, Decision-making Processes and Resources to Support Teaching and Learning
- Quality Audit Factor 4: Maintaining a Commitment to Quality Improvement.
AUQA Audit Preparations at Think: Education Group
In preparation for the AUQA audit in 2009, Think: Colleges Pty Ltd developed an overall strategy for the AUQA audit preparations. The aim of the strategy was to ensure that the organisation is well prepared for the external quality audit by AUQA. The Quality Committee provided oversight in the AUQA audit preparations for Think: Colleges Pty Ltd.
The 7 priorities related to the AUQA audit preparation included:
- Organizational wide self assessment aimed to identify areas of good practice and areas needing improvement
- Ongoing communication with staff and students and setting up Think: Quality website
- Operationalising the Stakeholder Survey policy aimed to prove and improve quality outcomes
- Implementing key improvements based on the findings of the self assessment and survey results
- Preparation of the Think: Colleges Pty Ltd Performance Portfolio for AUQA
- Managing the logistics of AUQA audit
- Actioning the affirmation(s) and recommendation(s) from the audit report
Think Education Group AUQA Prep Strategy (PDF)
Progress report
An important part of the AUQA audit process is closing the loop on affirmations and recommendations from cycle one audit. Think: Colleges will respond to AUQA on affirmations and recommendation in October 2010.
Feedback and Resources
Staff, students and other stakeholders are invited to forward any comments related to Quality Management at Think: Colleges Pty Ltd. We can only improve by listening and acting on your views. Please forward any comments/feedback to mshah@think.edu.au
Useful resources
Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
NSW State Department of Education (DET)
Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB)
Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA)
Graduate Careers Australia (GCA)
National Centre for Vocational Education Research
Contacts in relation to Think: College AUQA Audit
Dr. George Brown
Group Academic Director
gbrown@think.edu.au
or
Mahsood Shah
Director, Quality and Improvement
mshah@think.edu.au
