WESTERN SYDENY UNIVERISITY RISK ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST – UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY
This template aims at facilitating the identification of risks and their corresponding impacts. The outcomes of the assessment using this template
should be summarised and transposed to Western Sydney University risk assessment worksheet at a later stage.
categories
Risk
Risk Source (1)
Risk issue identified
Financial
(Illustration example)
Significant government
funding cut
Consequences: possible areas impacted by the risk issue identified (2)
Image and
reputation of
the
University
Financial /
Business/
Investment
activities
The
University is
unable to
finance
essential
operations
and services
Governance/
Management
controls
effectiveness
Teaching/
Learning/
Research
activities
The quality
and scope of
academic
activities
will be
adversely
impacted due
to lack of
sufficient
funding
Administration &
Operation –
effectiveness
and
efficiency
The quality
of admin.
services also
affected due
to reduced
resources
IT
technology,
& facilities
Up-to-date
IT facilities
installation
may be
delayed thus
affect other
areas’
services and
operations
Compliance
with
regulations
& policies /
Legal
liabilities
Environment
/ WH&S/
Fixed assets/
Infrastructure
Sociopolitical/
International
/ Community
engagement
Other areas/
activities
(please
specify)
Essential
maintenance
work may be
delayed or
cancelled
which leads
to the run
down of
facilities and
buildings
Note:
(1) Refer Western Sydney University risk category list
(2) The consequence of a particular risk can impact multiple areas
This checklist is not intended to be designed as an exhaustive list and is provided only as a guide/sample for consideration. Staff should consider
their own situation and environment before making use of it in their assessment.
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY RISK CATEGORY LIST
Category
Academic
(Course load/
logistics)
Academic (Course
curriculum/ quality)
Description
Low
Student load by course and campus, Staff student ratios, teaching Poor staff/ student ratios in some programs.
loads, admission processes and standards, student progression
and retention rates, mode of delivery, changes of student profile
and market demands, course and unit coordination capacity and
load of academics, levels of administrative and technical support
for academic activities
Quality/ standard of academic program/ course contents, planning Prolong course approval process that delay
strategy for course offerings, approvals and monitoring process for the marketing or offer of new courses
courses and units
High
Major decline in student progression rates and
serious incident of academic misdemeanor – the
University reputation/ enrolments suffer
Programs/ courses loss industrial/ professional
accreditation or special funding from authorities
Academic (Research)
Research income, research load, research work and staff,
research capacity, intellectual property, patents, ethical
conduct in research etc.
Poor research student ratios in some
educational programs Dispute in IP
Major decline in research projects and research
income – poor ERA rating that impacts the
University reputation. Outcomes of major research
program not protected and “lost”
Behaviour
Staff attitudes to risk, risk culture: staff reckless (disasters), staff
conservative (opportunities lost), staff uptake of policies
Staff occasionally take uninformed risks, staff
are only sometimes too conservative
Staff reckless – disasters; staff conservative –
opportunities lost
Environmental
Water, soil, air contamination, asbestos, waste management,
incidents causing damages, injury/ death, environmentally
triggered emergencies (Work Health & Safety risks)
Reductions in income, liquidity, financial loss, insurances, debt,
budget overruns, tenders
Slips, trips and falls – minor WHS issues
Major hazards, pollution, asbestos, injury or
death
Impact less than say $10,000, manageable
Impact exceeding say over $2m, significant
impact on budget
Financial
Infrastructure
International
Legal
Legislation
Organisational
Political
Reputation
(local & International)
Technology
The physical fabric of the University, buildings, roads, pathways, Burst water creating disruption lasting
several hours
utilities (electricity, water)
Overseas ventures/ reputation/ program disaster, relationships
Relationship with overseas university broken
with overseas universities
Major fires destroying many buildings – academic
activities disrupted for a considerable period.
Contracts and agreements, high profile litigation - financial and
Some chance of litigation, insured
reputational impact
Breach, financial penalty/ impact on reputation, laws, regulations, Minor breach – minor penalty
codes, affecting the University
High profile litigation, major financial impact
Overseas reputation disaster, several programs
collapse
Major breach, financial penalty and impact on
reputation
Strength of policies and procedures, planning, staffing, morale,
training, ethical culture, leadership and management
Ability to respond to major changes in education policies, level
of government consultation
Staff lacking some skills; weaknesses in some
admin. processing systems
Unethical culture, high staff turnover, no plans, very
poor systems
Some change but highly consultative
Major change in government and policies on
education
Damaging media reports, employability of graduates, research
links, regional involvement
Brief mention in paper
Full article in press, front page, ICAC report
Strategic direction of IT, reliance on ecommerce/ email/ internet, Network down for 1 day
student records system, library, university systems
Student records system broken and data not be
recovered, Student blended learning environment
portal is down for more than one week
SIMPLE GUIDELINES TO USE THE ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST
If we think of risk as an event or an issue or development that could stop or impede your unit/operations from achieving its objectives, what are the
risks that concern you the most and what are the possible cause and consequence if these events occur to your unit or the University?
(e.g. Too many inexperience casual staff in the University may affect the quality of services to students/staff etc)
1. Risk issues raised must have a situation/condition (cause) and a corresponding (impact) to you/ your organisation/unit/operation.
2. Use the checklist provided to identify what areas/activities of the University has been/ will be impacted and briefly and duly describe what the
consequences are (please refer to the example provided).
3. These Risk issues and events form the basis for assessment and evaluation.