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Academic committees

University Governance ensures that the business of the academic committees is professionally managed through to the relevant delegated approving authority - the Academic Board, the Vice-Chancellor or University Council.

We provide support to the following committees and their Chairs:

  • Academic Board;
  • Curriculum Committee;
  • Education Quality and Standards Committee; and
  • Research and Higher Degrees Committee.

We also provide support to sub-committees and working groups of the academic committees and other high-level University committees.

Academic Board

The Academic Board is established under the Edith Cowan University Act, which endows it with overarching responsibility for the academic functions and the academic governance of the University. Its scope ranges across all aspects of courses, student admission, enrolment and academic progress, teaching and learning and research, and services to students.

It is supported by its three senior committees, whose Terms of Reference align with those of the Board (which are laid down in the Act), and which make recommendations on policy and procedures, Rules, and high level University strategy. The Act states that “the Academic Board shall have all such powers as may be necessary to discharge its functions”, ensuring its independence. International students, programs and activities are included in the scope of responsibility of the Board and all its committees, and all have the power to establish working groups where required. These committees are listed below.

Curriculum Committee

The Curriculum Committee reviews and approves curriculum, and responds to teaching, learning and assessment actions arising from unit and course reviews to promote continuous improvement. It is a subcommittee of ECU's Academic Board, and was formed after the disestablishment of the Education Committee in March 2025.

Education Quality and Standards Committee

The Education Quality and Standards Committee (EQSC) reviews, monitors and makes recommendations on student related matters, academic standards, including academic policy and international compliance, and educational partnership arrangements. It is a subcommittee of ECU's Academic Board, and was formed after the disestablishment of the Education Committee and Internationalisation Committee in March 2025.

Research and Higher Degrees Committee

The Research and Higher Degree Committee (RHDC) makes recommendations to Academic Board on policies and procedures relating to research and development (including commercial research and development and research consultancies); internal and external research funding; contract research; research institutions and centres; procedures and quality of research training for graduate students and staff; the legal requirements for ethical conduct in research involving human and animal subjects; work health and safety; and bio-safety, hazardous substances and the use of radioactive materials. The RHDC develops and reviews the University Research and Research Training Functional Plan.

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