These rankings are subject to change pending decisions of university administrations as to how much support they show to student life and representation. These rankings represent the state of affairs as of November 2009, and regular updates will be released publicly here.
These rankings are based on research conducted by the National Union of Students (NUS) amongst its member campuses as to how each of their university administrations is responding to the introduction of voluntary student unionism.
It ranks universities in relation to their support for the student experience on campus.
The purpose of these categories is to give students and prospective students an insight into what the university they elect to attend is really going to be like. All of the official write-ups and rankings ignore the vital student experience and campus culture parts of universities that student’s value.
School leavers want to know how much fun they are going to have at different universities, how many opportunities there will be to excel in sport, debating and student leadership, how much support they will have if they get into trouble and whether their voice will be heard and valued.
Mature age and part time students want to know they will receive value for money and that the university is accountable through internal representative mechanisms, advocacy and support.
Parents want to know the real deal about universities, and whether their children will be getting not only a quality academic experience, but a quality student experience too.
International students want to know where their rights will be upheld; where a vibrant extra-curricular life will accompany their studies and give them a chance to meet Australian friends; where independent representation and advocacy are supported by the university should they fall into trouble.
Almost all students believe that a quality university experience is about more than what is learnt in the lectures and laboratories. All students value not only the academic components of university study, but the extra-curricular experiences that differentiate university from school and make it a place of life long learning.
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Make contact with NUS if you want your campus to pick up their act.
Summary
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Categories and Campus ratings
Category 1: NUS Approved
Universities in this category are extremely supportive of student representation and consult with students at every level. The culture of student involvement in decision-making permeates from governing board level through to student administration units.
Students who have academic and non-academic issues at the university are given a fair hearing with the right to independent, student-controlled and directed representation.
Student representation is well resourced with student submissions into University quality processes unchanged by VSU.
Campus student life is healthy and run and organised by the students of the university.
Students at the university are engaged and active in the governance of their student organisations. The culture of student participation and involvement in the student organisation is vibrant and democratic.
The university is respectful of student organisation autonomy and independence, and is also extremely supportive in reviewing and increasing the organisational support provided to student organisations as the peak representative body for students enrolled at the university.
Students wanting to attend these universities can be assured that there is a strong student voice for complaints and appeals with no issue off-bounds for student organisations from these universities. There is almost little to no chance that students won’t get the quality they paid for at these universities.
- The University of Sydney* (Best in Australia), NSW
- Monash University, VIC
- Melbourne University, VIC
- University of New South Wales, NSW
- Australian National University, ACT
- University of Western Australia, WA
Category 2: Room to Improve
Universities in this category are supportive of student representation and independent student controlled advocacy. There is a culture of student involvement in decision making within the university and student issues are given time and consideration.
Students who have academic and non-academic issues at the university are given a fair hearing with the right to independent, student-controlled and directed representation.
Student representation however, may not be well resourced and support for student representatives in developing and presenting organised submissions for university planning and quality is currently lacking.
Campus student life is healthy although student involvement in the development of on campus life is mixed.
Students at the university are engaged and active in the governance of their student organisations. The culture of student participation and involvement in the student organisation is vibrant and democratic.
The university is respectful of student organisation autonomy and independence but support is still inconclusive on some key issues such as student representation resources.
Students wanting to attend these universities should watch the changing of ratings for improvements in concrete support, but can rest easy that independent advocacy that is student directed exists, with the support of strong student representation that is currently still intact.
- University of Tasmania, TAS
- Curtin University, WA
- Queensland University of Technology, QLD
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, VIC
- University of Technology, Sydney, NSW
- Central Queensland University, QLD
- Edith Cowan University, WA
- James Cook University, QLD
- Adelaide University, SA
- University of Canberra, ACT
Category 3: NUS Concerned
Universities in this category are appearing supportive of student representation and independent student controlled advocacy, however support is as yet inconclusive.
Students who have academic and non-academic issues at the university are currently given a fair hearing with the right to representation, however some of these campuses do not have student-controlled advocacy as yet or future support for the student controlled advocacy is in doubt.
Student representation is not well resourced and support for student representatives in developing and presenting organised submissions for university planning and quality is non-existent.
Staff or non-students direct the campus student life. It is unclear what the difference is between on campus student life and that available from the local pub.
Students at the university are still currently engaged and active in the governance of their student organisations, however the culture of student participation and involvement in the student organisation is at risk of folding due to lack of resources.
Some of the universities are respectful of student organisation autonomy and independence but support is still inconclusive for student controlled and directed services and support.
Some of the universities are placing harsh restrictions and monitoring tightly the decisions made by student organisations and do not respect the autonomy of elected student representatives.
Students wanting to attend these Universities should watch the movement of ratings to see if improvements are made in the level of concrete support given to student organisations. If issues arise at these universities, it will not be easy to reach a resolution.
- University of South Australia, SA
- Flinders University, SA
- Murdoch University, WA
- Victoria University, VIC
- Latrobe University, VIC
- University of Western Sydney, NSW
- University of New England, NSW
- Macquarie University, NSW
- Wollongong University, NSW
Category 4: NUS Condemned
Universities in this category repudiate the importance of providing paying students a right to representation that is controlled by students. Support for student representation is minimal. Universities may take an antagonistic, ignorant or arrogant approach to student organisations and representation. These universities may provide little or no funding to their organisation rendering long-term representation and advocacy tokenistic or unattainable.
Students wanting to attend these Universities should be wary. Student issues are unlikely to receive proper attention and support for student complaints is non-existent or likely to wind up if no support is provided to the student organisations.
- Charles Stuart University, Bathurst, NSW – student organisation under threat
- Griffith University, QLD – no student organisation at Brisbane campuses
- Swinburne University, VIC – student organisation under threat
- Southern Cross University, NSW – student organisation at Lismore awaiting support
- University of Sunshine Coast, QLD – student organisation under threat
- Charles Darwin University, NT – No current student organisation
Category 5: F – FAIL
Universities in this category do not have a student representative organisation. Universities in this category have forcibly or negligently allowed independent student representation and advocacy to cease on their campuses.
The attitude of the university has demonstrated a complete disregard for student needs. Students should not attend these universities if they value fairness and accountability, wish to engage in student life or seek value for money.
Not all Australian universities are listed in these categories. Those not listed include some non-NUS member universities and non-participants in the ratings. Some student associations felt so censored and controlled by their university administration they were concerned that participation in the ratings would negatively effect their relationship with their university administration.
- Australian Catholic University
- Deakin University
- University of Ballarat
- Newcastle University
- University of Queensland
- Southern Queensland University
NUS Ratings 2009
