UQ welcomes student feedback

The tables turned at UQ today, with students asked to examine the University via an online survey.

The Australasian Survey of Student Engagement was distributed to a representative group of 17,000 undergraduate students.

Students will answer questions about their studies on campus and at home, their commute to their institution and their future plans as well as questions about how they like to spend their free time.

AUSSE is developed and managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and is administered to a representative sample of first and later-year students at all participating Australian universities.

The survey will involve students and staff from 54 higher education institutions – 32 Australian universities, seven New Zealand universities, and 15 non-university higher education providers.

This is the fourth year UQ has participated in the survey.

In 2009, 3466 UQ students responded, and the aim is to increase the response rate for 2010.

Deanne Gannaway, from UQ's Teaching and Educational Development Institute, said the survey results could help improve students' learning outcomes.

“Students can tell us how they learn, simply by checking their student email to see whether they have been selected to participate in this survey,” she said.

“Their honest feedback helps us to identify and encourage teaching and learning practices that stimulate student engagement.

“This information can then be used to enhance future learning experiences.”

AUSSE results can be benchmarked across Australian universities, providing a powerful perspective for higher education institutions.

Students who complete the survey will be placed in a draw to win a $200 book voucher and Coles-Myer gift cards worth $100.

Last year's randomly selected winner was Miss Kerry Carman, an animal studies student.

Media: Deanne Gannaway (07 3365 6728, d.gannaway@uq.edu.au) or Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)