Academic Calibration Program
The IRU Universities are distinctive in their commitment to broadening participation in higher education providing a quality valuable lifelong education base for all our graduates. We draw our students from suburban, peri-urban, regional and remote areas of Australia, with high proportions of disadvantaged and ‘first in family’ students. At the same time, we are also research intensive and innovative in the way we address some common problems in higher education.
As a group the IRU members are confronting the challenges of the digital economy which is both changing the nature of work for most and opening up many opportunities to change how university education is enjoyed.
The IRU Academic Calibration Program (ACP) is a practical sign of our commitment and the potential from universities working together. It is an external peer review process that is undertaken in collaboration with other Innovative Research Universities. Each university gets considered feedback from academic staff in another university about the standard of work required for each assessment outcomes.
1. Engagement | 2. Preparation | ||
Each university selects units they would like to calibrate. These are distributed to calibration coordinators at each university to find suitable calibrators. | The unit coordinator will select one assessment task from the unit, and collate student samples and supporting materials relating to the unit; Student samples are de-identified and sent on to the calibrating university. | ||
3. Review | 4. Evaluation | ||
The calibrator receives materials to evaluate all items provided and fill out the templated reports provided. | Once the review process is complete, a short process evaluation will be filled out by both the calibrator and unit coordinator to allow for continuous review and improvement of the calibration process. |
Benefits
Unit and Course Coordinators | Calibrators | Schools, Faculties, and Universities | |
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Peer Review of Curriculum module
The IRU has produced an open resource for university staff who plan to become a calibrator for the Innovative Research Universities academic calibration process, provide a peer review to an internal colleague or sit on a committee that reviews proposals for new degree programs and new units. The module explores the principles of providing feedback, the practicalities of peer review and some top tips to get you started. After completing the module, you will be able to:
- Apply the principles of giving feedback when you are conducting a peer review
- Describe the different ways in which peer review of curriculum may be applied
- Explain the importance of ensuring curricula are inclusive
- Create a plan for your next steps.
Contacts
The IRU welcomes other institutions participating in the calibration process.
Institution contacts
Name | Institution | ||
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Sarah Morgan Broome | Charles Darwin University | Sarah.MorganBroome@cdu.edu.au | |
Gary Davis | La Trobe University | benchmarkingQS@latrobe.edu.au | |
Alison Black Alyson Liew |
Murdoch University | ||
Anna Smith | Flinders University | anna.smith@flinders.edu.au | |
Chantelle Warren | Griffith University | c.warren@griffith.edu.au | |
Mariana Van Niekerk | James Cook University | mariana.vanniekerk@jcu.edu.au | |
Urvee Somaiya Maria Djekic |
Western Sydney University | coursequality@westernsydney.edu.au |