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AUSSE 2009 insights The Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) has provided the most extensive insights yet into how Australasian students engage in university study. The 2009 collection, involving 35 universities and also including a parallel staff survey, has provided universities with data that they can use for quality improvement. Statistics from the 2009 AUSSE can be found at http://www.acer.edu.au/ausse/australasia.html This data profiles detailed results of around 100 facets of engagement for Australia and New Zealand. It also includes results for ‘Australasia University’, which represents the averages of all students surveyed for the AUSSE in 2009. Reports on individual universities’ performance in the 2009 AUSSE were released to institutions in early December, and analysis of results will be released in 2010. It comes as no surprise, for instance, that one in five first-year Australian students drop out of university, says Principal Research Fellow Hamish Coates of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). The national university attrition rates released this month by the federal government only confirm AUSSE findings just released to universities that show as many as one in three students across the country seriously considers leaving university during their first year of study. On average, 28 per cent of students surveyed in 2009 said they had considered leaving their institutions before graduation. Dr Coates, who directs the AUSSE, said the student engagement survey had revealed startling statistics about students’ study intentions but had also provided universities key information to help them better support, engage and retain students through to graduation. “Collecting feedback from students themselves is beneficial in that it provides key insights into what university students are actually doing,” Dr Coates says. “AUSSE provides insights that can help universities better support student learning and development, monitor academic standards and outcomes and ensure students are getting the most out of their university experience,” he said. “This information is vital to improving student engagement and retention through to graduation,” he says. “AUSSE provides information that is imperative to ensuring the quality and productivity of the higher education system,” Dr Coates says. Latest figures released by the federal government show that almost one in five students drops out of Australian universities by the end of their first year. In the recent review of higher education, Professor Denise Bradley suggested that retention targets should be set for each university to reduce attrition. The Bradley review acknowledged that students’ decisions to complete or leave courses were affected by students’ satisfaction and engagement with courses, students’ expectations and circumstances, the level of support from staff and institutions, and course content. Reflecting this recommendation, the federal government has announced it will negotiate targets, including student completion rates, with universities in 2010. Universities that agree to targets will receive funding in 2011, with funding related directly to performance against those targets to start in 2012. AUSSE is developed and managed by ACER and was designed to stimulate evidence-focused conversations about students’ engagement in university study. The 2009 administration of AUSSE, which took place earlier this year, surveyed more than 30,000 students from 35 Australian and New Zealand universities. Reports on individual universities’ performance in the 2009 AUSSE were released to institutions in early December, and analysis of results will be released in 2010. For more information about AUSSE, visit www.acer.edu.au/ausse « Back to eNews
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The Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) has provided the most extensive insights yet into how Australasian students engage in university study. The 2009 collection, involving 35 universities and also including a parallel staff survey, has provided universities with data that they can use for quality improvement.

Statistics from the 2009 AUSSE can be found at http://www.acer.edu.au/ausse/australasia.html
This data profiles detailed results of around 100 facets of engagement for Australia and New Zealand. It also includes results for ‘Australasia University’, which represents the averages of all students surveyed for the AUSSE in 2009.

Reports on individual universities’ performance in the 2009 AUSSE were released to institutions in early December, and analysis of results will be released in 2010.

It comes as no surprise, for instance, that one in five first-year Australian students drop out of university, says Principal Research Fellow Hamish Coates of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

The national university attrition rates released this month by the federal government only confirm AUSSE findings just released to universities that show as many as one in three students across the country seriously considers leaving university during their first year of study.

On average, 28 per cent of students surveyed in 2009 said they had considered leaving their institutions before graduation.

Dr Coates, who directs the AUSSE, said the student engagement survey had revealed startling statistics about students’ study intentions but had also provided universities key information to help them better support, engage and retain students through to graduation.

“Collecting feedback from students themselves is beneficial in that it provides key insights into what university students are actually doing,” Dr Coates says.

“AUSSE provides insights that can help universities better support student learning and development, monitor academic standards and outcomes and ensure students are getting the most out of their university experience,” he said.

“This information is vital to improving student engagement and retention through to graduation,” he says.

“AUSSE provides information that is imperative to ensuring the quality and productivity of the higher education system,” Dr Coates says.

Latest figures released by the federal government show that almost one in five students drops out of Australian universities by the end of their first year.

In the recent review of higher education, Professor Denise Bradley suggested that retention targets should be set for each university to reduce attrition. The Bradley review acknowledged that students’ decisions to complete or leave courses were affected by students’ satisfaction and engagement with courses, students’ expectations and circumstances, the level of support from staff and institutions, and course content.

Reflecting this recommendation, the federal government has announced it will negotiate targets, including student completion rates, with universities in 2010. Universities that agree to targets will receive funding in 2011, with funding related directly to performance against those targets to start in 2012.

AUSSE is developed and managed by ACER and was designed to stimulate evidence-focused conversations about students’ engagement in university study.

The 2009 administration of AUSSE, which took place earlier this year, surveyed more than 30,000 students from 35 Australian and New Zealand universities. Reports on individual universities’ performance in the 2009 AUSSE were released to institutions in early December, and analysis of results will be released in 2010.

For more information about AUSSE, visit www.acer.edu.au/ausse

AUSSE 2009 insights