2015 Pathways Benchmarking Project Final Report and Recommendations

The Pathways Benchmarking Project included both a self-review and peer review process with representation from 13 organisations linked to pathway programs across Tasmania and the Illawarra region in New South Wales [including universities, TAFE providers, private providers, Department of State Training, RTOs and secondary schools]. The benchmarking project was instigated by the University of Wollongong in late 2014 to improve the coordination of their pathways programs, of which the University of Tasmania has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for benchmarking activity. This project is aligned with the University of Tasmania’s Strategic Plan for Learning and Teaching 2012-2014 (2015 Extension) Objective 4.4: Element C which states: ‘Develop the quality of the partnership process at UTAS through benchmarking projects with other universities and implementation of outcomes’.

The project had three aims: 1) compare the quality of pathway programs; 2) compare data and evaluation process and; 3) identify areas of good practice, areas for improvement/development and areas for sharing. The results of the self-review process and peer review process [workshop by video conference] have informed the development of recommendations for the Tasmanian and Illawarra regions in pathways.