The University of Newcastle, Australia

The University of Newcastle welcomes the Audit Report by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA).

AUQA is the principal national quality assurance agency in higher education with the responsibility of providing public assurance of the quality of Australia's universities and other institutions of higher education, and assisting in enhancing academic quality.

AUQA's audit focused on the themes of admission, progression and retention, internationalisation, and follow-up of selected recommendations from the 2002 audit of the University of Newcastle.

The Report described the University of Newcastle as a 'vibrant and well-managed institution with enthusiastic staff and students'.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nicholas Saunders, said "This independent view reflects extremely well on all that we have done to improve performance across a range of areas including our support for staff and students, academic integrity, and financial standing.

"These and other initiatives have been recognised by AUQA as positioning the University to significantly strengthen its activities and its position nationally and internationally.

"This Report is a tribute to the commitment and engagement of staff and students of the University. It is a basis for celebration of achievement."

The Report contained 11 commendations for the University particularly highlighting progress in financial health, strong benchmarking results with other universities, new processes for onshore and offshore teaching, the establishment of student hubs, continued growth in providing multiple pathways to enter higher education, strong support for Indigenous students, and robust academic integrity measures.

The Report also made seven affirmations and five recommendations including further improvement to teaching and course delivery, the implementation of better systems to report back to students on their feedback, and the continued development of the Ourimbah Campus community.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Kevin McConkey, said the Report reinforced the direction of the University and added value to its continued growth and improvement.

"The Report reinforces the areas we are attending to. The audit findings provide impetus for the distinction that we are all building for the University of Newcastle," Professor McConkey said.

Media comment is available from Professor Kevin McConkey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). Contact Kate Robinson, Manager - Media and Public Relations.

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