The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching survey show most students are satisfied
The results of this year’s federally funded comprehensive survey are in-line with the last two, but there is an improvement at the top-end.
Across the system some 78.9 per cent of undergraduates were satisfied with the overall quality of their educational experience in 2018, up marginally on 2017.
Ratings on specific attributes were also in-line with ’17; skill development, 81 per cent (unchanged on 2017), teaching quality, 81 per cent (up 1 per cent), learning resources, 84 per cent (unchanged). The learner engagement category remains the marked under-performer, with only 60 per cent of students being positive, unchanged from last 2017.
The results pleased Education Manager Dan Tehan who undoubtedly enjoyed being able to announced, “it’s great to see universities flourishing under the coalition government.”
Universities Australia’s Catriona Jackson was also pleased, “Four in five university students say they are happy with their education — a strong result consistent with previous surveys,” she said. Anticipating questions about the 20 per cent who aren’t happy, Ms Jackson added that the top reasons for student attrition are personal, health work and family commitments.
However, Mr Tehan also said QILT reminds universities, “about the importance of maintaining the highest standards and delivering a quality education. Universities must maintain a strong focus on the student experience.”
And some are more focused than others. QILT is careful to qualify its results, that courses offered and sorts of students shape results, “there is also a negative association between institution size and student ratings.”
But it points to Bond U and the University of Notre Dame Australia with overall 89 per cent ratings. And while there are non-university higher-education providers with scores that are shockers students just love others. Adelaide Central School of Art, Moore Theological College and the Jazz Music Institute in Brisbane all score 96 per cent. “These are clearly sites of best practice in the student experience from which other institutions may learn” QILT suggests.
There is, a 20 per cent spread of scores across universities is from Victoria U (72 per cent overall satisfaction rating) to Bond and Uni Notre Dame.
Individual institutions overall satisfaction ratings are similar to last year. Universities rating under 75 per cent on raw scores in 2017 and 2018 are Charles Darwin U, University of Sydney, UNSW, and Victoria U. The University of Southern Queensland escaped the group this year improving to an overall score over 75. (The report also addresses small collection anomalies).
Universities scoring over 80 this year, (up four), are; Bond U, Curtin U, Deakin U, Edith Cowan U, Federation U, Griffith U, Murdoch U, QUT, Swinburne U, U Notre Dame, Uni Queensland, Uni SA, Uni Divinity, UNE, Uni Sunshine Coast, and Uni Wollongong.
Tomorrow: more QILT analysis