Nerlich S1
1Australian Government Department Of Education, Canberra , Australia
The Australian Government’s Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching initiative incorporates the Student Experience Survey which captures responses from both domestic and international higher education students about their study experience. The international student survey also includes additional questions about international students’ experience of living in Australia.
In 2022 international student satisfaction scores showed strong recovery for low points reported in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Very positive ratings were reported for skills development, teaching quality and student support, and were on par with domestic student ratings.
International students rated their living experience in Australia highly, with 94% of respondents rating their experience positively in 2022. This incorporated positive ratings about personal safety on and off campus and about improving English-speaking skills through engagement with the Australian community. Personal safety was ranked highest across a range of reasons for choosing to study in Australia, followed by affordable cost of living and the reputation of the Australian education system.
One of the lowest ranked areas was work experience in students’ fields of studies, suggesting that although work in Australia is accessible, gaining specific skills in students’ specific fields of study remains challenging.
The International Student Experience Survey is a valuable tool for investigating international students experience of studying and living in Australia. The data can be disaggregated for undergraduate and postgraduate students and by student home country and also by the Australian states and territories that students studied in.
Biography:
Dr Steve Nerlich is the Director of the International Analysis Section in the Australian Government Department of Education. Steve’s team produce Australia’s monthly international education statistics and range of other data products that support Australian international education.