Benchmarking Australian and New Zealand university meta-policy in an increasingly regulated tertiary environment

Abstract

The agencies responsible for tertiary education quality assurance in Australia and New Zealand have established regulatory regimes that increasingly intersect with tertiary institution policy management. An examination of university meta-policies identified good practices guiding university policy and policy management. Most Australian and half of New Zealand universities have developed meta-policy, or policy on policy, with the most comprehensive articulating policy definitions, range and application of policy instruments, categorisation, approval authorities and policy cycle stages. Sound meta-policy provides an essential framework for good policy-making, and is the key to the development of positive policy outcomes. Increasing tertiary sector regulation provides a contemporary imperative to embrace university meta-policy as one mechanism to embed good practice policy process to facilitate these improved policy outcomes.

Keywords:

• benchmarking
• evidence of implementation
• policy on policy
• regulation
• university meta-policy

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Dr Kai Jenson (RMIT), Mark Hatwell (Monash University) and Penelope Pepperell (University of Melbourne) for discussing the various themes explored in this paper. This paper draws on a presentation given at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) Annual Meeting 14–17 April 2013 Moscone Center West, San Francisco, CA.