Student and employer satisfaction with university education remains high

Four out of five students are satisfied with their university education while the same percentage of employers are happy with their recent graduates, according to two national surveys released on the QILT website.

The 2016 Student Experience Survey of more than 178,000 students shows that student satisfaction with overall educational experience has remained consistently high over time, with around 80 per cent of students providing positive responses between 2011 and 2016.

The 2016 Employer Satisfaction Survey found four out of five supervisors (84 per cent) expressed overall satisfaction with their recent graduates.

It also found that nine out of ten graduates (89 per cent) and supervisors (93 per cent) thought their qualification prepared the graduates for their current jobs.

Universities Australia Chief Executive Belinda Robinson said that the survey results made it clear university students were happy with the quality education at Australia’s universities and that employers recognised the high-level skills of Australian graduates.

The surveys provide future students with “more information than ever before" to make informed decisions about what and where to study and what prospective employers want.

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the surveys would allow students to apply and enter the higher education system with “clear eyes” about the courses they were enrolling in and the job opportunities once completed.