Quality assurance
Uniquip
Report on the HEQC audit
The University of Cape Town (UCT) was audited in May 2005. The final report was received in March 2006. It is evident that, in compiling the final report of the audit, the panel drew heavily on information contained in our own portfolio and has acknowledged efforts UCT is already making in relation to some of the areas around which recommendations have been made. In that sense, the report has affirmed and validated much of UCT’s own self-evaluation. As a result the university was satisfied with the report.
After receiving the final report Senate constituted a Steering Committee to oversee the process of engaging with the final report of the audit and developing the University’s Quality Improvement Plan (UNIQUIP). The Steering Committee consisted of two DVCs, the Deans, the Director of the GSB, the SRC President and the Director of Institutional Planning
The University’s Quality Improvement Plan, submitted to the HEQC, was based on contributions from the faculties, the newly elected and outgoing SRCs, the faculty councils, appropriate professional and support departments and faculty councils. The plan reflects a balance between faculty specificities and university wide imperatives. The bottom-up approach accommodates different faculty contexts and priorities in relation to the list of areas for improvement. The plan is organised around eight strategic objectives, namely:
Strategic Objective One: To strengthen articulation between teaching, research and social responsiveness and performance-oriented planning
Strategic Objective Two: To accelerate and strengthen transformation
Strategic Objective Three: To promote equity of access for students
Strategic Objective Four: To improve the quality and profile of UCT’s graduating class
Strategic Objective Five: To improve the quality of the student experience
Strategic Objective Six: To improve research productivity and research planning
Strategic Objective Seven: To promote staff development
Strategic Objective Eight: To develop an integrated conceptual framework for strengthening and expanding social responsiveness
The university operates within a multi-year plan and budget. Each year the university reviews its objectives and attempts to allocate resources to support approved strategic initiatives. Impact measures have been identified for each of the Strategic Objectives. These measures will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention strategies. The planning and budgeting process for 2008 will integrate objectives in the Improvement Plan into the overall University Plan and Budget. This process will include an annual review of progress at the end of March each year and an assessment of the resource implications of planned activities for the following year. Accordingly the timelines in the plan are for March, 2008, 2009 or 2010. Adjustments to the plan will be made each year in the light of the going reviews.
