ANU Quality Review — 2004

The Council of the Australian National University initiated an independent, external Review of the quality of its performance in February 2004.

The Review encompasses research and scholarship, research training, undergraduate teaching and learning, postgraduate teaching and learning, national and regional community service, and internationalisation.

The Review is intended to inform both the ANU and the Australian people about the standing of the University and the best ways of developing its capacities in Australia’s long-term interest.

The Review process

All areas of research and teaching at ANU have been evaluated:
· Around 90 per cent of ANU academic staff submitted their best five research works over the period 1995-2004 for peer review by 285 external, mostly international assessors — resulting in critical evaluations of more than 7,500 works;
· A comprehensive review of the University’s administration was conducted;
· Independent survey firms conducted analysis of student and alumni opinions;
· Industry and Government users of ANU research, education and consulting were surveyed; and
· A variety of other statistical analyses of ANU performance was conducted.

A Review Committee was convened to assess the evidence and make their own observations. The Committee visited ANU in July 2004.  After meeting and deliberating, they have prepared a final report, which was released on 24 September 2004. 

The Review Committee

Chair:
Professor Deryck Schreuder, Visiting Fellow, University of Sydney.  Vice-Chancellor and Principal, The University of Western Australia (1998-2004);

Members:
Dr Tom Everhart, President, California Institute of Technology (1987-1997)
Professor Deborah Freund, Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Syracuse University. NY.
Professor Franz Kuna, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Research), Klagenfurt University, Austria (until 2003)
Professor Sir Colin Lucas, Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford (1997-2004)
Ms Heather Ridout, Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group.
Professor Frank Shu, President, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.
Professor Wim Stokhof, Director, International Institute of Asian Studies, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Dr Jan Veldhuis, President, Utrecht University, The Netherlands (1985-2004)
Professor Sir David Williams QC, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge (1989-1996)

External Members:
Professor Jeremy Knowles, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University (1991-2002)
Dr Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation. (1998-2003)