Satisfaction with Australian universities slumped markedly last year, with students feeling less well taught and particularly less engaged.

Just 69 per cent of undergraduates gave their overall educational experience the thumbs up in 2020, down from 78-80 per cent over the previous nine years. The lurch into remote education left many bachelor¡¯s students feeling isolated, with just 44 per cent awarding their universities positive ratings for learner engagement ¨C down from 60 per cent in 2019.

Master¡¯s students experienced even more alienation, with just 42 per cent offering positive ratings for learner engagement.

The results come from the 10th annual?, one of the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) assessments conducted by the Australian National University¡¯s Social Research Centre.

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QILT research director Lisa Bolton said that the results were unsurprising given the rapid move to ¡°fully online¡± learning during the pandemic. ¡°It would appear that this move has impacted various institutions more than others, depending on their previous experience in delivering courses online, their location and study area profile,¡± she said.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said the sector had ¡°worked hard to support students in one of the toughest learning environments we¡¯ve ever seen¡±. Positive ratings for student support were unchanged from 2019, at 74 per cent.

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Education minister Alan Tudge conceded that universities had ¡°responded well during the pandemic to ensure they were giving students additional support¡±. But he said that universities ¡°can and should be doing better¡±, notwithstanding the pandemic¡¯s ¡°obvious¡± impact.

¡°I want all universities to focus on their main purpose: educating Australians and giving them the skills and qualifications that will get them into a job. Some of our universities have lost that focus and it¡¯s time to return to core business,¡± the minister said.

The report shows that small and regional universities generally performed best in preserving satisfaction levels. Southern Queensland, Edith Cowan, Central Queensland, New England and Bond universities recorded only minor dips in their positive approval ratings.

Victoria¡¯s biggest universities ¨C Melbourne, Monash and RMIT ¨C performed worst, possibly reflecting the city¡¯s extended lockdown. ¡°[They] were subject to the greatest impact to on-campus learning and amenities,¡± Ms Bolton said. ¡°Other areas were able to return to their on-site classes earlier.¡±

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Some private higher education colleges ¨C led by SP Jain School of Management and the Whitehouse Institute of Design ¨C recorded improved satisfaction ratings despite the pandemic. Representative group Independent Higher Education Australia said that non-university providers had claimed all top 25 spots for overall educational experience.

Chief executive Simon Finn said their response to Covid had demonstrated the ¡°core focus¡± of the independent sector to ¡°deliver on what students need most ¨C high quality learning and teaching¡±. The results also proved independent providers¡¯ commitment to ¡°supporting students to succeed¡±.

The QILT??for 2020, which has also been released, revealed approval ratings at near record levels. ¡°These results are a powerful endorsement from employers that Australia¡¯s universities are preparing career-ready graduates who are resilient even in the most challenging circumstances,¡± Ms Jackson said.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com