Quality Management at Murdoch University

Introduction

Welcome to Murdoch University’s Quality Management Web Site

Constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of what we do is an integral part of the University’s activities.  We have many ways to regularly look at our activities and their outcomes and ways that we might improve these outcomes.  The way we think about this quality cycle at Murdoch University is represented by the terminology "Plan / Act / Evaluate / Review", as illustrated.

For example, each academic School is reviewed on a five-yearly cycle approved by Academic Council.  External panels examine a portfolio of evidence, evaluate outcomes and recommend actions, which are then monitored through Academic Council and the Academic Quality Audit Committee (AQAC).

Murdoch has conducted two whole-of-institution audits (WOIAs): the first at the end of 2000 and the second at the end of 2005.  The University underwent its first review by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) in May 2006 and was commended "for adopting authentic, external whole-of-institution, cyclic quality audits, synchronised with external AUQA audit and in-house quality audit and review cycles".  Recommendations, affirmations and self-identified opportunities for improvement arising from the 2005 WOIA and 2006 AUQA audits have been amalgamated into a Combined AUQA/WOIA Implementation Plan.  AQAC is monitoring progress implementing these improvements, many of which are well on their way to being embedded or completed.

The various components of the University’s Quality Management Framework are elaborated throughout this site.  However the quality cycle at Murdoch is more than the formal system, as important as that might be!  In all your various roles (e.g. as a university teacher) and functions (e.g. as a member of a committee or team), I encourage you to think about what you are doing in this cyclical way.  I hope you find it helpful in improving your practice.

Professor Jan Thomas
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic)