Benchmarking: a manual for Australian universities

Abstract: The objective was to identify the most important aspects of contemporary university life and to find ways of benchmarking them. The assumption is that excellence and adding value are goals that are sought by all universities. It assumes also that those aspects of excellence and value adding that can be easily quantified are not the only ones worth taking into account. There are sixty-seven benchmarks included in this manual. Chapter 12 addresses the difficulties and possibilites of using a smaller core sub-set. Other chapters give a background to benchmarking in universities, approaches to benchmarking, governance, planning, management, external impact, finance and infrastructure. There are also chapters that dealing with benchmarking for learning, teaching, student support, research, library and information services, staff and international aspects.