Policy overview
1 Purpose
Articulate the University's approach to strategy development, planning, resource allocation and performance evaluation.
2 Scope
This policy applies to all University Members.
3 Policy Statement
The University takes a holistic integrated approach to planning, reporting and performance evaluation via systems, practices and controls to ensure efficient, effective and economical performance management.
4 Principles
The University is committed to a system of integrated planning and Risk informed decision making, achieved by:
- Developing plans that are:
- Logical, measurable and responsive to changing internal and external environments;
- Consistent and visible;
- Transparent and simple;
- Inclusive and respectful of First Nations knowledge and perspectives;
- Provide connection between people, processes, and resources; and
- Designed to facilitate dynamic discussion and decision making.
- Undertaking planning consultatively across multiple time horizons as articulated in the Integrated Planning Framework.
- Developing a hierarchy of plans provided in Table 1 (below).
- Creating and maintaining performance evaluation and decision making mechanisms to measure, monitor and act on performance to objectives within the Strategic Plan.
- Regular performance monitoring and reporting to Council and Vice-Chancellor's Executive.
- Establishing tiered governance structures to ensure separation of responsibility and heightened performance.
- Including Risk management as an integral part of all decision making.
- Developing and maintaining a dynamic budget model to support implementation of the University's strategic objectives.
Table 1: Hierarchy of plans
| Plan level | Title | Description |
| 1 | Strategic Plan | Provides vision, mission, values and overarching strategic direction, covering a period of five years. |
| 2 | Core Plans | Underpin the Strategic Plan and mobilise key divisional portfolios. |
| 3 | Enabling Plans | Activate the strategic and core plans across activities such as International, People, Campus Development, Digital and Innovation. |
| 4 | Portfolio Plans | Provide direction on the core deliverables for strategic programs of work, including roadmaps guiding the development of specific projects and a three-year forecast. |
| 5 | Annual Priority and Operational Plans | Provide the annual priorities and resourcing methodologies, set and distributed by Vice-Chancellor's Executive members to inform Operational Plans (articulated within the Annual Plan and Budget). Operational Plans outline area operational actions and initiatives, consistent with the annual priorities, and include resource allocation. |
5 References
TEQSA, 2019, Guidance Note: Corporate Governance, viewed 14 February 2022, https://www.teqsa.gov.au/latest-news/publications/guidance-note-corporate-governance
6 Schedules
This policy must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.
7 Policy Information
| Accountable Officer | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise Services) |
| Responsible Officer | Director (Planning and Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Enterprise Services) |
| Policy Type | Governance Policy |
| Policy Suite | |
| Subordinate Schedules | |
| Approved Date | 10/10/2022 |
| Effective Date | 6/12/2022 |
| Review Date | 6/12/2027 |
| Relevant Legislation | Financial Accountability Act 2009 Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 Higher Education Support Act 2003 Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2021, Agency Planning Requirements University of Southern Queensland Act 1998 Voluntary Code of Best Practice for the Governance of Australian Public Universities |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | |
| Related Procedures | Annual Financial Planning (Budget) Procedure (under development) |
| Related forms, publications and websites | Enterprise Risk Management Framework (under development) Financial Management Practice Manual (restricted access) Integrated Planning Framework (restricted access) Project Management Framework (restricted access) |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| Council means the governing body, the University of Southern Queensland Council....moreCouncil means the governing body, the University of Southern Queensland Council. The key measures of activities the University is undertaking to achieve the aims of the strategic plan....moreThe key measures of activities the University is undertaking to achieve the aims of the strategic plan. The key measures of the aims of the strategic plans the University is endeavouring to achieve....moreThe key measures of the aims of the strategic plans the University is endeavouring to achieve. The Operational Plans developed by the University, as required under Section 8(1)(b) of the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019....moreThe Operational Plans developed by the University, as required under Section 8(1)(b) of the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019. The effect of uncertainty on objectives....moreThe effect of uncertainty on objectives. The Strategic Plan developed by the University, as required under Section 8(1)(a) of the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019....moreThe Strategic Plan developed by the University, as required under Section 8(1)(a) of the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019. The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland. Persons who include: Employees of the University whose conditions of employment are covered by the UniSQ Enterprise Agreement whether full time or fractional, continuing, fixed-term or casual, including senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University; members of the University Council and University Committees; visiti...morePersons who include: Employees of the University whose conditions of employment are covered by the UniSQ Enterprise Agreement whether full time or fractional, continuing, fixed-term or casual, including senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University; members of the University Council and University Committees; visiting, honorary and adjunct appointees; volunteers who contribute to University activities or who act on behalf of the University; and individuals who are granted access to University facilities or who are engaged in providing services to the University, such as contractors or consultants, where applicable. | |
| Definitions that relate to this policy only | |
| Keywords | |
| Record No | 22/217PL |