Peter Bakker, National Quality Assurance and Business Systems, C. Management Services, David Jones, Teaching and Learning Innovation Officer, Faculty of Informatics & Communication, and Pam Sorohan, Quality Assurance Officer, Faculty of Informatics & Communication recently presented a paper at the National Australian Universities Quality Forum (AUQF) Conference held at the Hilton on the Park in Melbourne on June 12 and attended by key government and DEST representatives.

The paper, titled “National Quality in a Global Context” was a case study which outlined the development of a Quality Management Structure involving Central Queensland University’s Faculty of Informatics & Communication, C. Management Services and CQU’s Australian and offshore international campuses.

The paper explored the mechanisms and structures the Faculty of Informatics & Communication and Australian International Campuses in particular have set in place (and are still evolving) to meet the requirements of an academic quality management system, within a diverse set of commercial imperatives.

The paper covered the history and development process that the parties have gone through to achieve a system that supports the both the objectives of the Faculty (and ultimately the University) and the commercial partner.

The trio don't claim to have all of the answers, but shared the journey issues and challenges and pitfalls they have had to face and to overcome.

The report underscored the value of strong, non-judgemental communication, and a willingness to “think outside the square”, when it comes to problem solving, and to breaking the barriers of a traditional commercial communication model by allowing both parties access to each others decision making, record and compliance reporting systems.

If the parties were to both survive and achieve their objectives these challenges had to be turned into assets: Three discrete but symbiotic support mechanisms were explored.

1. Faculty QA administration and decision making.

2. Commercial Partner QA administration and decision-making.

3. Innovative IT support for multicampus teaching and learning (Myinfocom) in terms of supporting results collation and moderation across up to 14 campuses; while at the same time responding to the evolving flexible teaching and learning delivery needs. In particular there was a demonstration of the “guaranteed minimal course presence”, and administrative support structures.

Comments were highly complimentary, and supplied copies of the CD Presentation were all snapped up with a number of follow-up enquiries for further information about the systems used.

This is a further example of positive partner collaboration founded on open access and communication between varying levels of CMS and CQU colleagues.