Five star success

UNSW has scored the maximum five-star rating for 10 performance indicators in the Good Universities Guide 2014 – up from eight last year.

For graduate outcomes – getting a job, starting salaries and positive graduate outcomes – UNSW rated in the top group for all three measures, one of only two Go8 universities to achieve this top result.

UNSW also achieved five-star ratings for student demand, research grants, research intensity, staff-student ratio, staff qualifications, cultural diversity, and non-government earnings.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer said it was a great result, reflecting UNSW’s position as a leading research-intensive university.

“It is particularly pleasing that UNSW has again achieved five stars for graduate outcomes – our students are highly sought after by employers.”

Professor Hilmer said he was also pleased to see the introduction of a student retention rating in this year’s Guide as it is too often overlooked as a measure of how well universities are serving their students.

“UNSW has one of the highest retention rates in the sector. This is partly due to the student cohort we attract, but also to our focus on pathway programs and on supporting students once they’re here.

“Our peer mentoring programs have proved to be very effective, as has our recently introduced early intervention initiative, which involves support officers targeting and helping students who may benefit from additional assistance."

The Guide, published annually, provides detailed profiles of all Australian universities and institutions offering tertiary courses.

Media contact: Denise Knight, UNSW Media Office, 02 9385 3249, d.knight@unsw.edu.au

Our students are highly sought after by employers - Prof Hilmer