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 Academic Services Division ensures Quality Management and the ongoing improvement in all aspects of Think: Colleges including Governance & Strategic Planning, Learning & Teaching and Support Services. The division is also responsible for internal reviews and the coordination of external quality audits by Government Accreditation Agencies such as the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
Think: Education Group is an accredited Vocational and Higher Education provider. Although the Vocational and Higher Education quality systems 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
Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations
Vocational Education & Training (VET) compliance and ongoing improvement is headed by the Director of Vocational Education & Training. The Director is supported by Quality & Risk Managers who work with each of the Think: Colleges offering VET courses.
Further information can be obtained at: www.asqa.gov.au
Contacts in relation to VET Quality:
Dr. George Brown
Group Academic Director
gbrown@think.edu.au
TEQSA (formerly AUQA Audit)
TEQSA (formerly AUQA) audited Think: College Pty Ltd on 22, 23 July 2009. The public audit report is available on the AUQA website. AUQA based 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) included:
- 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 was well prepared for the external quality audit. The Quality Committee provided oversight in the AUQA audit preparations for Think: Colleges Pty Ltd.
The 7 priorities relating 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 TEQSA audit process is closing the loop on affirmations and recommendations from the cycle one audit. Think: Colleges will respond to TEQSA (formerly AUQA) on affirmations and recommendation in October 2011.
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 gbrown@think.edu.au
Useful resources
Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
NSW State Department of Education (DET)
ASQA
TEQSA
Graduate Careers Australia (GCA)
National Centre for Vocational Education Research
Contacts in relation to Think: Colleges AUQA Audit and Progress Report
Dr. George Brown
Group Academic Director
gbrown@think.edu.au
