The Institutional Planning and Performance Framework

The Vice-Chancellor's Committee (VCC) endorsed a project on 23 June 2004 to establish an Institutional Planning and Performance Framework (IPPF).  The intention was to provide a coherent and transparent university-wide framework for performance monitoring, reporting, and planning which fulfils internal and external accountabilities and is consistent with good practice in Australian higher education.

The IPPF has been progressively introduced over the last four years and is in its final stage of development.  When fully implemented it will enable the University to:

• systematically monitor and report on outcomes against the University's objectives and targets;
• integrate planning and resource allocation cycles for the purposes of making realistic and informed decisions on the University's core business activities; and
• use its performance reports and plans as the principal tools to effectively oversee progress against its strategic directions, statutory obligations and quality improvements.

Under the IPPF model the University reviews performance and undertakes planning at all levels.  This process is guided by a number of underlying elements:

• the need to ensure that the University’s mission, vision and values are embedded in a Strategic Plan that supports the commitment to excellence needed for the organisation to thrive;
• its strategic goals, objectives and targets;
• the external environment in which it operates;
• active collaboration and consultation with all stakeholders;
• integration of University-level plans with Division/Unit-level and Faculty/School-level plans and budgets;
• ensuring that plans consider past performance and continuous improvement principles; and
• ensuring ongoing financial sustainability.

The key University Performance Reports that guide the development of all plans include:

• The University Performance Report;
• The University Research and Research Training Performance Report;
• The University Learning and Teaching Performance Report;
• The University Services and Resources Performance Report (due for implementation in 2009); and
• Faculty Annual Performance Reports.

The key plans or groups of plans that outline the University’s direction include:

• The University Strategic Plan, which outlines its future direction and major strategies;
• The University Operational Plan, which highlights how these strategies will be implemented;
• The Faculty Business Plans, which identify specific plans, targets and resource needs of the five academic faculties;
• The Divisional Business Plans, which identify key activities and projects in the three divisions needed to support the achievement of University goals and Faculty plans;
• The University Capital Management Plan, which quantifies the investment required to sustain the University’s facilities and infrastructure; and
• The University Budget, which comprises individual budgets for each major business unit and quantifies the revenue expectations and expenditure limits in each of those areas.