All Good Practices in this database have been ‘validated’ through a national auditing body and subsequent refereeing processes. The validating bodies are as follows:

The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) is an independent, not-for-profit national agency that promotes, audits, and reports on quality assurance in Australian higher education. AUQA was established by the Ministerial Council on Education, Training and Youth Affairs in March 2000. It operates independently of governments and the higher education sector under the direction of a Board of Directors. AUQA is owned by and receives core, operational funding from the Federal, State and Territory Ministers for higher education. AUQA is responsible for:

• conducting quality audits of Australian higher education institutions and State and Territory Government higher education accreditation authorities;
• providing public reports on the outcomes of these audits;
• commenting on the criteria for the recognition of new universities and accreditation of non-university higher education awards; and
• reporting on the relative standards and international standing of the Australian higher education system and its quality assurance processes.

For further information, visit www.auqa.edu.au/

The New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit (NZUAAU) was established by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee in 1993 and is governed by a Board appointed by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee. The Board appoints the Director and other professional staff, and the Unit operates as an independent body. The Unit administers academic audits of New Zealand universities, and acts to facilitate the sharing of good practice. The Terms of Reference under which the NZUAAU operates can be summarised as being:

• to review and comment on the effectiveness of systems for monitoring and enhancing academic quality and standards in New Zealand universities to ensure that they are appropriate for achieving the universities’ stated aims and objectives, and that they are applied effectively; and
• to identify, devise, disseminate and commend to universities good practice, assist universities improve educational quality, advise the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee on quality assurance matters, and interact with other national and international agencies and organisations engaged in quality assurance in education.

For further information, visit www.aau.ac.nz/