June 28, 2023

UOW shows promising growth in 2022 Student Experience Survey

The University ranked second in NSW among public universities in overall satisfaction with academic experience

As higher education institutions all around the world were emerging from the unprecedented challenges brought by the pandemic, 2022 symbolised a bridge to a new era of growth and possibilities.  

For the University of Wollongong (UOW), this transformative year marked a journey of recovery and progress. And its results are clearly visible in the highly anticipated Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) 2022 Student Experience Survey National data (announced on 26 June 2023), revealing UOW's strong performance and progress in key indicators.   

As the only comprehensive survey of current higher education students in Australia, Student Experience Survey results provide valuable insights into the quality and effectiveness of the Australian universities’ teaching and learning environments.  

In 2022, UOW has achieved a strong position in various areas of the student experience, securing an impressive 13th position in Australia (out of 42 compared institutions) in terms of overall satisfaction of undergraduate students with their educational experience. Furthermore, UOW emerged as the second-highest ranked public university in New South Wales for 2022 among undergraduate students. 

Among undergraduate students, UOW surpassed the national average across all indicators. Notably, UOW’s undergraduate results for Learner Engagement soared 8 per cent above the national average (up from 4 per cent below the average in the previous survey), while other results remained between 2.4 and 3.5 per cent above the sector’s average. 

The University also retained its second position in NSW for undergraduate Skills Development and achieved an impressive third place state-wide for undergraduate Teaching Quality. Moreover, UOW excelled or maintained high ranks in various disciplines, including Undergraduate Law and Paralegal Studies (2nd nationally), Undergraduate Creative Arts (1st in NSW), Undergraduate Teacher Education (1st in NSW), Undergraduate Engineering (2nd in NSW) and Undergraduate Communications (3rd in NSW). 

In the 2022 Student Experience Survey results for the postgraduate cohort, UOW performed above the sector average in Learner Engagement, Learning Resources and Student Support.  

UOW's Postgraduate Engineering maintained an impressive second place in NSW, while Health Services and Support improved from 6th to equal 3rd place in the state. 

The impact of COVID-19 hit international students the hardest, and with large numbers still learning remotely in 2022, the SES results from this cohort lag behind their domestic student peers at 78 per cent. Still, in 2022, UOW’s overall satisfaction rating from international students increased from 69 per cent to 73 per cent. And UOW’s Learning Resources received a glowing review, improving from 75 per cent in 2021 to an impressive 89 per cent in 2022. 

These results highlight UOW's dedication to providing an exceptional student experience and its ongoing efforts to enhance educational quality across all disciplines.  

Professor Theo Farrell, UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Student Life), warmly welcomed the 2022 SES results, saying that they solidify UOW’s position as a leading institution both in the state and Australia-wide. 

“I am delighted to see UOW return to our pre-COVID position as one of the top-ranked public universities in NSW for student satisfaction. These results reflect a huge team effort across the whole university to enhance student support, and the learning resources and experiences we provide at UOW. Our close partnership with students has been key to this success,” Professor Farrell said. 

ABOUT QILT STUDENT SATISFACTION STURVEY  

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey program, including the Student Experience Survey, is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education. 

The Student Experience Survey provides a national architecture for collecting data on key aspects of the higher education student experience. It focuses on aspects of the student experience that are measurable, linked with learning and development outcomes; and potentially able to be influenced by institutions. The Student Experience Survey measures five aspects of the student experience: Skills Development, Learner Engagement, Teaching Quality, Student Support, and Learning Resources. 

UOW is committed to addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a shared blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone. This research addresses Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all.