UON Quick Tour: PQR

Associate Professor Anne Young, Director of Planning, Quality and Reporting (PQR), takes In the Loop on a quick tour.

What is PQR?

The PQR unit is part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Division.  We are responsible for:

  • conducting surveys of students and staff
  • coordinating strategic planning
  • managing student load projections and admissions modelling
  • reporting on performance (through the University’s Management
    Information System)
  • promoting the use of data and information to support decision making
Tell us about the surveys

We look after a range of internal surveys and collect student feedback on courses,  teaching,  programs  and University services, and the Commencing Student Survey. In 2011, the PQR team read over 60,000 comments, which helped formulate action plans for improving the student experience. The team also coordinates the University’s participation in national and international surveys including the Australian Graduate Survey, the International Student Barometer and the new University Experience Survey.

What happens with the results?

We analyse survey responses and prepare reports for Faculties and Schools, as well as various University Committees. Summary reports are then uploaded to the PQR website for staff and students. We also work directly with Faculties, Units and individuals to help them understand and address any issues identified within the feedback.

Tell us about some of the other work that you do

As part of the ongoing focus on improving the Student Experience at the University, we conduct regular focus groups with students at all our locations to better understand their experience. We also coordinate the external program review and annual program report processes at the University which regularly evaluate the relevance and quality of the University’s academic programs.  We produce reports on current student enrolments and load, calculate the required number of offers during the admissions period, and estimate future student numbers for budget projections.

What are your biggest achievements over the past year or two?

Our input into a range of Student Experience and Engagement projects, and work with other areas of the University, which have led to improvements in learning and teaching, support and services, and infrastructure. The projects were based on feedback we received from students about how to improve services and support.

Launching the MIS Portal with the first phase of dashboards and reports on student enrolments and load. Find out more here

Is there anything exciting on the horizon?

NeW Directions - Assisting the Vice-Chancellor and staff from across the University to revise the University’s Strategic Plan and make sure it flows down to all levels of the organisation. This process includes establishing KPIs and targets, so that we can monitor our progress towards achieving the University’s Vision.

Further development of the MIS Portal to provide access to data on student performance (retention and success), research outputs, and survey results.

What’s the best thing about working in PQR?
  • Being part of a team of professional staff with a diverse range of skills who share common goals
  • Seeing the improvements that are occurring across the University in response to student and staff feedback.

Many thanks to Anne and the team at PQR. If you would like In the Loop to take a quick tour of your area, email intheloop@newcastle.edu.au