Benchmarking Project

I  Nursing projects home  I  Virtual Exchange Project  I

Benchmarking Research and Clinical Education

Between 2004 and 2006, benchmarking surveys were collaboratively developed by nursing colleagues at U21 universities for the areas of clinical teaching and research. Benchmarking surveys were distributed to academic staff at U21 organisations who were invited to rate clinical teaching and research activities in accordance to specified performance indicators. The results of theses surveys were analysed annually over a three-year period (for the 2004, 2005 and 2006 academic-year period). Results for benchmarking have allowed for comparisons to be made between particular academics, across institutions and across specific performance indicators. It is therefore possible for an organisation to focus attention strategically on particular areas requiring improvement. For example, in the research benchmarking survey, academics at the school have been actively involved in supervising research only students, either as a principal or co-supervisor. In examining these figures more closely however, it appeared that certain individuals have been more involved with this activity. Co-supervision of students, under the mentorship of a more experienced supervisor, have been implemented as an effective means by which more junior individuals can develop experience in research training. Decisions and targets have been set for particular performance measures to determine the effectiveness of strategic measures of improvement. In the clinical teaching benchmarking exercise, evidence was found that students were not sufficiently incorporated in decisions about the clinical content of their courses. Overall, the results of benchmarking have been used to improve staff development initiatives across U21 partner organisations.
The benchmarking activities were conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Manias (University of Melbourne).

Benchmarking Clinical Education document

Explanatory notes for Benchmarking Clinical Education

Benchmarking Research document

Benchmarking Results 2004

Benchmarking Results 2005

Benchmarking Results 2006

International Benchmarking for Universities – moving forward to address challenges (Elizabeth Manias, University of Melbourne, 2006)

In 2008, during the discussion on a draft paper on benchmarking within U21 nursing, the complexity of benchmarking within an international context was highlighted, although it was acknowledged that the benchmarking template could be useful for new nursing schools. It was proposed that a working group would refine (for publication) the paper, outlining the U21 nurses' experiences of benchmarking clinical education in an international context.