Policy overview
1 Purpose
To provide the framework and principles for the University's Enterprise Architecture.
2 Scope
This policy applies to all Employees, Researchers and University Members.
3 Policy Statement
The University adheres to the latest TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework) version 10. This includes updating terminology and structure to match TOGAF's Architecture Development Method (ADM) phases. TOGAF is used because it provides a recognised, structured method for aligning business goals, Information, applications, and technology across the institution. This ensures an Enterprise Architecture framework and principles that maximise the digital capabilities of the University.
The main components of UniSQ's Architecture Practice are:
- Structured Framework: enhancing efficiency and security by guiding the delivery, management and integration of all technology systems.
- Standard Architecture: guides delivery of solutions
- Application Architecture: Ensures applications are scalable, interoperable and aligned to need.
- Data Architecture: Ensures the accessibility, security, scalability and efficiency of data systems by guiding fiscal and performance driven data decisioning.
- Security Architecture: Ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Information
- Integration Architecture: Ensures that systems work together effectively and securely.
- Technology Architecture: Ensures the technology Platforms are reliable, efficient, and scalable.
- Governance Architecture: Ensures IT initiatives align with set goals and comply with standards.
4 Principles
The Enterprise Architecture principles will guide the selection, design and implementation of business solutions for the three aspects of Information, applications and technology.
4.1 Business Architecture Principles
The following principles apply to Business Architecture:
- User Focus
Business Architecture must prioritise the needs of users and support accessibility requirements to ensure services align with business and institutional needs. - Operational Efficiency
Business Architecture must support the efficient use of resources and enable the delivery of quality outcomes while minimising unnecessary complexity and waste. - Strategic Alignment
Business Architecture must align with UniSQ's strategic objectives, planned initiatives, and existing enterprise capabilities. - Governance and Compliance
Business Architecture must comply with relevant legislative, regulatory, and institutional requirements, including approved governance frameworks and standards.
4.2 Information Architecture Principles
- Data as a Strategic Asset
Data must be treated as a strategic institutional asset that supports informed decision‑making, operational effectiveness, and innovation. - Data Integrity and Quality
Data must be accurate, consistent, secure, and managed in accordance with approved standards to maintain trust and reliability across the institution.
4.3 Application Architecture Principles
The following principles apply to Application Architecture:
- Solution Alignment
Applications must align with institutional requirements and the approved application landscape to minimise duplication and unnecessary complexity. - Integration and Interoperability
Applications must support interoperability and standardised integration to enable effective data exchange and end-to-end business processes.
4.4 Technology Architecture Principles
The following principles apply to Application Architecture:
- Scalability and Performance
Technology Platforms must be scalable, performant, and aligned to approved standards to support sustainability and ease of maintenance. - Cloud‑First
Cloud‑based solutions must be prioritised where appropriate and feasible, subject to security, risk, and compliance requirements. - Secure by Design
Security controls must be embedded in technology solutions from inception and maintained throughout the system lifecycle to protect data, privacy, and institutional assets.
5 References
Nil.
6 Schedules
This policy must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.
7 Policy Information
| Accountable Officer | Chief Operating and Financial Officer |
| Responsible Officer | Chief Operating and Financial Officer |
| Policy Type | Executive Policy |
| Policy Suite | |
| Subordinate Schedules | |
| Approved Date | 13/5/2026 |
| Effective Date | 13/5/2026 |
| Review Date | 14/12/2028 |
| Relevant Legislation | Disability Discrimination Act 1992 |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | Acceptable use of ICT Resources Policy Contract Management Policy (under development) ICT Information Management and Security Policy |
| Related Procedures | Contract Management Procedure (under development) Engagement of Cloud Computing Services Procedure Information Systems Financial Management Procedure Records and Information Management Procedure |
| Related forms, publications and websites | Brand Toolkit (restricted access) Enterprise Information Management Framework (EIM Framework) International Web Content Accessibility Guidelines UniSQ Project Delivery Framework |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| An online repository of guidelines and templates for the marketing and communication of the University by Employees, to Students and the community....moreAn online repository of guidelines and templates for the marketing and communication of the University by Employees, to Students and the community. A determination made by an Employee, contractor or other authorised delegate in the course of their duties on behalf of the University....moreA determination made by an Employee, contractor or other authorised delegate in the course of their duties on behalf of the University. A person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University....moreA person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University. Any collection of data that is processed, analysed, interpreted, organised, classified or communicated in order to serve a useful purpose, present facts or represent knowledge in any medium or form. This includes presentation in electronic (digital), print, audio, video, image, graphical, cartographic, physical sample, textual or numerical form....moreAny collection of data that is processed, analysed, interpreted, organised, classified or communicated in order to serve a useful purpose, present facts or represent knowledge in any medium or form. This includes presentation in electronic (digital), print, audio, video, image, graphical, cartographic, physical sample, textual or numerical form. Defines strategic uses of information and is accountable for ensuring that information assets are managed in compliance with the Information Governance Framework....moreDefines strategic uses of information and is accountable for ensuring that information assets are managed in compliance with the Information Governance Framework. An individual or group of people who have been officially designated as accountable for specific data that is transmitted, used, and stored on a System within the University....moreAn individual or group of people who have been officially designated as accountable for specific data that is transmitted, used, and stored on a System within the University. The organised collections of hardware, software, equipment, policies, procedures and people that store, process, control and provide access to information....moreThe organised collections of hardware, software, equipment, policies, procedures and people that store, process, control and provide access to information. A high level strategic directive that establishes a principle based approach on a subject. Policy is operationalised through Procedures that give instructions and set out processes to implement a Policy....moreA high level strategic directive that establishes a principle based approach on a subject. Policy is operationalised through Procedures that give instructions and set out processes to implement a Policy. An operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy....moreAn operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy. Regulatory Compliance Instrument An external compliance instrument provided by legislation, regulation, standards, statutes or rules, including subordinate instruments....moreAn external compliance instrument provided by legislation, regulation, standards, statutes or rules, including subordinate instruments. Any person/s involved in Research Activities at, or on behalf of the University. This includes, but is not limited to Employees, Students, visiting scholars, research partners, research affiliates, holders of Honorary or Adjunct positions....moreAny person/s involved in Research Activities at, or on behalf of the University. This includes, but is not limited to Employees, Students, visiting scholars, research partners, research affiliates, holders of Honorary or Adjunct positions. A property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them....moreA property of access control of multiple related, but independent software systems. With this property a user logs in once and gains access to all systems without being prompted to log in again at each of them. A person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled....moreA person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled. A framework that is used to evaluate performance at every stage of the student life cycle. The journey commences at the first point of contact (decision to apply time) and proceeds through to graduation and alumni. The Student Learning Journey prompts people across the organisation to think about the Student experience from a holistic perspective and not a series of unrelated events....moreA framework that is used to evaluate performance at every stage of the student life cycle. The journey commences at the first point of contact (decision to apply time) and proceeds through to graduation and alumni. The Student Learning Journey prompts people across the organisation to think about the Student experience from a holistic perspective and not a series of unrelated events. The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland. Persons who include: Employees of the University whose conditions of employment are covered by the UniSQ Enterprise Agreement whether full time or fractional, continuing, fixed-term or casual, including senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University; members of the University Council and University Committees; visiti...morePersons who include: Employees of the University whose conditions of employment are covered by the UniSQ Enterprise Agreement whether full time or fractional, continuing, fixed-term or casual, including senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University; members of the University Council and University Committees; visiting, honorary and adjunct appointees; volunteers who contribute to University activities or who act on behalf of the University; and individuals who are granted access to University facilities or who are engaged in providing services to the University, such as contractors or consultants, where applicable. | |
| Definitions that relate to this policy only | |
| Accessible/ility Systems are designed to enable access to a wider range of people with disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity and combinations of these. Following current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines will also make content more usable to users in general. Application Architecture The blueprint for the individual application systems to be deployed, the interactions between the application systems and their relationship to the core business processes of the organisation. Browser A software program that allows the user to find and read encoded documents in a form suitable for display, especially such a program for use on the World Wide Web. Examples include, but are not limited to Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera. Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/browser Business Architecture The strategic governance and key business processes of the organisation. Cloud Computing A model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. Enterprise Architecture Organising an enterprise's resources - its services, processes, Information, applications, and technology infrastructure - and establishing policy and related procedure to achieve desired business outcomes, technical standardisation and integration. Source: Queensland Government Enterprise Architecture Framework 2.0. Information Architecture The structure of an organisation's logical and physical Information Assets and associated Information management resources. Source: Queensland Government Enterprise Architecture Framework 2.0. Information Security Architecture The structure and behaviour of an organisation's security processes, Information security systems, personnel and organisational sub-units. Responsive Refers to the ability of systems to display content across multiple devices such as, but not limited to, smartphones, tablets and desktops. Platform The combination of device (hardware), firmware and/or operating system used to run Browser software when accessing web content. Searchable A website, resource or application that is capable of being computationally searched. System Interface The visual part of an application or operating system through which a user interacts. Technology Architecture The hardware, software and network infrastructure needed to support the deployment of supported applications. Usability The ease of use and learnability of a system that allows users to effectively and efficiently achieve specific goals. User Experience Encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the University's online systems (academic and non-academic), applications, tools, resources, artefacts and content. An exemplary User Experience will be seamless and meet the needs of Users through the provision of simple, effective and well-designed systems. | |
| Keywords | |
| Record No | 13/797PL |