Graduate rates of employment are strong, employers are reporting high levels of satisfaction with the skills of graduates and students' satisfaction with their university experience has improved since the pandemic .
That's the story from three encouraging reports the Government has released today - the Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal, the Student Experience Survey, and the Employer Satisfaction Survey.
2024 Employer Satisfaction Survey
Overall employer satisfaction, which is the proportion of employers who would employ another graduate from the same course and institution, has increased to 85.5 per cent from 83.7 per cent, the highest recorded since this survey started in 2016.
The survey asks employers to rate their satisfaction across five areas: foundation skills, adaptive skills, collaborative skills, technical skills and employability skills. Employer satisfaction increased in all five areas in 2024.
2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal
2024 graduate full-time employment rates are strong sitting at 91 per cent, three years after graduation for undergraduates.
While there was a softening between 2023 and 2024 in line with the broader labour market, full-time employment remains higher than pre-pandemic.
2024 Student Experience Survey National Report
Student ratings of their experiences at universities have improved after falling away during COVD.
The undergraduate rating of their overall educational experience was similar to last year, above COVID lows, but hasn't fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Post graduate coursework ratings have improved and now exceed pre-pandemic levels in all five focus areas of the survey: skills development, peer engagement, teaching quality and engagement, student support and services and learning resources.
While the overall trajectory of students' experience is encouraging, more work needs to be done. The report shows students with disability rate their experience lower than other students, particularly when it comes to peer engagement and student support and services.
The reports are available at the QILT website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"These reports are encouraging. They show graduate employment rates are strong, and student experiences at university are improving after the massive disruption of COVID.
"There is more to do.
"Work is underway on how to break down the barriers between TAFE and university and create a more joined-up tertiary education system.
"Next month Education Ministers will consider reforms to improve university governance.
"Next year needs-based funding will start to better support students at universities from disadvantaged backgrounds and from regional Australia and the bush."
