Policy Reform

UNE adopted, after extensive consultation and research, a principles-based approach to governance and policy in 2020.

Principles provide clear and transparent direction for stakeholder, as to the way the University wants to operate, so meet its purpose, live its values, achieve its goals and meet stakeholder expectations, while complying with laws and regulations.

A principles-based approach relies on principles to state what has to be achieved by the University, it's representatives, students and the public. It shifts governance focus from process to outcomes.

Principles based policies define the culture and direction of an organisation and are aimed at internally motivating staff and students to perform towards a common goal. This approach has been proven to require fewer changes, as principles change less frequently than rules with subsequent business processes being able to be amended without impacting the overarching policy.

The templates for drafting Principles and Guidelines are located in the Policy Resources Website.

UNE aims to simplify and clarify its policy suite by establishing 8 thematic policy groups each with identified principles and supporting guidelines. The use of themes will improve:

• Understanding of the relationship between policies and policy documents.
• Clarity on the purpose and intent of each policy.
• Alignment with desired business model or business process.

Ensuring that our policies are fit for purpose requires a design-led, iterative process that focuses on an understanding of the users and their experiences. Policy Reform aims to reduce pain points.

The design rules we are applying include:

The current policy lifecycle results in stakeholders often conduct insufficient design and research as part of review and or policy development. This includes insufficient research into:

• internal business process,
• norms or best practice in sector;
• related policy documentation that might also need review by association;
• who are the key stakeholders who use the policy; and
• review of evidence of how the existing policy has been working.

A new policy lifecycle will be designed to address the pain points of policy development and management. Clearer roles and responsibilities will be defined. New tools and templates will be implemented to support policy owners and authors  manage their governance responsibilities.

The lifecycle pain-points identified and to be addressed include:

• Development and reviews have not been consistently conducted, leading to a lack of clarity of roles and of the required process to ensure quality outcomes.
• A lack of consistent quality consultation and low levels of input by key stakeholders (risk that policy changes are ‘not relevant’ or not aligned with business process).
• The public, university-wide consultation process has been inconsistent in engagement and feedback.
• A lack of communication and support for implementation of change arising from policy review and amendment, increasing risk that staff continue to follow old practice without awareness or adoption of new/changed standard.
• A lack of consideration for how information will be collected and collated and responsibilities for policy quality assure to inform future review and changes.
• Who are the key stakeholders, who use the policy and when.
• Review of evidence of how the existing policy has been working.

Improve the way we access policy documents and provide more channels for support and feedback.

Make the language of the policy website and communications more user friendly, supportive, inclusive and culturally appropriate.

These are the Legislation, Regulation, Standards and Codes that the University, it's representatives and students are required to meet. These legally binding expectations set externally and are frequently describe as Laws.

Rules are the parent UNE policy document:

• Defines the principles that drive our behaviour
• Express the objectives and intent of the University
• Defines how laws and standards are implemented across the University
• Govern and guide conduct and decision making
• Are university-wide
• Compliance is mandatory
• Authorised and owned by the Council or Academic Board or Vice Chancellor

Use these documents answer the question "Why do we do...?" and "What behaviour is expected of me?"

Policies are a child of a UNE Rule:

• Express the accountability and responsibilities of the University, it's representatives and students
• Provides further explanation of how to apply the principles
• Define operational criteria for meeting laws and standards
• Are university-wide
• Compliance is mandatory
• Authorised and owned by the Council, Vice Chancellor or Executive Member

Use these documents answer the questions "What are my responsibilities?" and "What decisions do I need to make?"

Associated Policy Documents are the children of a UNE Policy:

• Explain the application of UNE Rule and UNE Policy in greater detail
• Are university-wide
• Compliance is mandatory
• Includes documents such as Frameworks, Procedures, Decision Trees etc.
• Authorised and owned by the Executive Member or their delegate as define in a UNE Policy

Use these documents answer the questions "Who does this at UNE?", "What are the detailed conditions?" and  "What do I have to do?"

Operational documents and tools are not policy documents, however they are linked to policy documents:

• Describe processes and actions required to implement a UNE Policy
• Prescriptive and instructional
• Must be aligned and conform with UNE Rules and UNE Policy
• Change more frequently than UNE Rules and UNE Policy
• Either university-wide or local domain (Faculty, School, UNE area or function)
• Owned, authorised, developed and maintained by the responsible university area or function
• Includes documents such as process diagrams, work procedures and instructions, operating procedures, web pages, Moodle pages and practice standards

Use these documents answer the questions "Tell me more about... ?" and  "What do I use to...?"

1. Development and implementation of refreshed policies for:

• UNE Identity Values and Goals
• Scholarship
• Organisational Development
• Student Journey - Research
• Student Journey - Teaching & Learning
• Organisation Capacity and Planning
• Environment, Facilities and Spaces
• UNE Safe

2. Implementation of the new policy lifecycle.

3. Enhancement to access and usability of the policy website.

You can provide feedback on every current UNE policy via the Policy Register.

Click on the Feedback button at the top of the policy to provide your ideas.