High student satisfaction: survey

ACU students have expressed higher overall satisfaction with teaching, learning and skills development than students at other Australian universities, according to a national survey.

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching’s (QILT’s) 2015 Student Experience Survey (SES), published on Tuesday 10 May, demonstrates that ACU students scored the University more highly than the sector average in all key areas surveyed.

ACU student satisfaction improved in 2015 for four of five focus areas. The Overall Experience Satisfaction of ACU students increased to 83.4 per cent.

ACU students scored the University:

• 86 per cent for Skills Development compared to the national average of 81 per cent
• 67 per cent for Learner Engagement compared to the national average of 60 per cent
• 84 per cent for Teaching Quality compared to the national average of 82 per cent
• 75 per cent for Student Support compared to the national average of 72 per cent
• 88 per cent for Learning Resources compared to the national average of 86 per cent
• 83 per cent for Overall Experience compared to the national average of 80 per cent.

The QILT survey found that overall satisfaction levels for all focus levels was 80 per cent nationally, with overall satisfaction consistently high from 2014 to 2015.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said the strong results demonstrated the University’s investment in quality learning and teaching, as outlined in its five-year Strategic Plan.

“The University has set out to achieve excellent student satisfaction and graduate outcomes, by delivering quality programs with an innovative and distinctive learning and teaching experience,” Professor Craven said.

Government forecasts show that education, and nursing and allied health are two of the biggest growth sectors in Australia.

Professor Craven said the University's strong connectedness to the education and health sectors meant that many students have the opportunity to gain practical experience with schools and hospitals and other healthcare providers before graduation.

ACU graduates also performed well, with a median starting salary of $55,600 and a 72 per cent rate of full-time employment within four months of finishing their degree according to QILT’s most recent Graduate Destination Survey.

Around 145,000 undergraduate students from Australian tertiary institutions – all 40 universities and 39 non-university higher education institutions participated in the survey.

ACU’s response rate doubled from 20 per cent of students in 2014 to 46 per cent in 2015.

The annual survey collects information for higher education institutions and the government to improve teaching and learning outcomes, and to reflect multiple facets of the student experience.

ACU offers courses in education and arts, health sciences, law and business, and theology and philosophy in Brisbane, Ballarat, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney. All students have the opportunity to study at the University’s newest centre in Rome.