International students in Australian institutions are way more satisfied than pre-COVID, according to Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching 2023 survey results.
Scores last year for 2022 rebounded from the pandemic satisfaction slump and now have gone beyond – with nearly all 2023 ratings the highest-ever, and ahead of local students. Overall, 75% of international students (studying at home and in Australia) were satisfied with the quality of their entire education experience in 2023.
While satisfaction with learning resource scored 84%, peer engagement lagged, at just under 70%, although this is a significant lift on quarantine 2021 when it was 48%.
But while overall scores are much improved, a significant share of paying postgrads were not happy with what they got. Across the board, barely 60% rated the teaching quality and engagement they received, with just 53% in law, 55% in dentistry and 56% of teaching students satisfied.
Where they study made a difference – the smaller the institution the generally better. Bond U, James Cook U, Uni Notre Dame Australia and Uni New England all rated above 80.
QILT reports that some Group of Eight universities slow to adjust during COVID picked up the pace. Uni Melbourne was just under the all university overall quality score in 2023 but that was 25% better than in 2021. In contrast, Uni Sydney, which campaigned loud and long this year about the importance of international education, rated last.
Last year’s QILT report is based 71,000 responses, a 36% response rate from UG and PGs across Australia’s 42 universities plus 100 other HE providers.
Apprenticeship slump in VIC
By TIM WINKLER
Just when the housing / tradie crisis looked like it could have reached its nadir, more bad news is coming out of Victoria, with a 38% decline in apprenticeship and traineeship commencements.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported the drop across four months in 2024-25, compared to the same time last year, with the biggest drops in carpentry and plumbing.
There have also been significant drops in commercial cookery, retail, hospitality, hairdressing and engineering fabrication.
Essentially if you want to buy a parmi, get a haircut or have a home to live in, it’s a little bit harder right now.
The Chamber surveyed its members and found that around 40% would require incentives of $12,000 or more to convince them to hire more apprentices. There was no word on what would require the other 60% to employ more.
The Chamber is looking for a Government handout of $15,000 per new apprentice for small businesses and scaled support for larger entities to kick start demand. Can’t fault them for aiming high.
