Review of the IWS (Interdisciplinary Women’s Studies, Gender and Sexuality)

Written submissions are invited from all staff for the review of the IWS (Interdisciplinary Women’s Studies, Gender and Sexuality), within the Faculty of Arts.

Please see the Review Terms of Reference (below) and for a copy of the Self-Evaluation Review, please contact Gina Lewis at gina.lewis@mq.edu.au or on ext. 8887.

Submissions should be sent to the secretary of the review, Gina Lewis, by Thursday 14 May 2015. Submissions will be treated in confidence and only be viewed by the secretary to the review and the review panel itself.  No anonymous submissions will be accepted. The review panel may request that the person making the submission appear before the panel if further information is required.

Purpose
To review the activities of IWS (Interdisciplinary Women’s Studies, Gender and Sexuality), including a range of management, resourcing, and quality enhancement issues relating to research, HDR, academic, and community engagement programs.

Terms of Reference – 2015 External Review

1. Governance, Leadership and Management
Review the effectiveness of IWS planning, leadership and management structure, processes and resources in responding to Faculty and University strategic planning directions. Review the implementation of the 2008 plan for the hosting of IWS in the Department of Sociology.

2. Academic Program

Review the appropriateness of the degrees, programs, and units offered by IWS relative to Faculty and University priorities, employer and professional community demands. Review the structural relation between the disciplines and interdisciplinary programs; the role and decision-making powers of program directors; and the extent and utilisation of the resources of interdisciplinary programs within departments.

3. Research

Review current research outputs, activity, and capability relative to Faculty and University objectives including opportunities for developing research and knowledge leadership.

4. Research Training
Review the HDR program, including admission standards, methodology and skills training, completion times and drop-out rates, supervision and reporting standards.

5. Staff and Student Profile

Review the alignment of academic, professional, and student profile relative to current and future objectives and plans. A necessary part of reviewing the staff profile is determining the status of the new Sociology of Gender position.

6. Community Engagement

Review the scale, scope, and quality of community/industry engagement, including external/professional contribution to and referencing of, curriculum and research development.

7. Future Directions
Recommend future development opportunities for IWS in terms of its resources, research, teaching and community/industry engagement activity, and its future structural positioning within Arts.