About the University Experience Survey (UES)

The University Experience Survey (UES) is one of a number of initiatives being developed by the Australian Government to help ensure ongoing improvement in the quality of learning and teaching in Australian universities. The UES focuses on aspects of the student experience that are measurable, linked with learning and development outcomes, and for which universities can reasonably be assumed to have responsibility. It is similar to the University of Sydney Student Course Experience Questionnaire (SCEQ) and is designed to provide reliable, valid and generalisable information to the Australian Government and to universities.

In 2011 DEEWR engaged a Consortium to develop the UES. The Consortium was led by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and included the University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) and the University of Western Sydney (UWS). The Consortium designed and validated a survey instrument and collection method and made recommendations about further development. The 2011 project report can be found here.

In 2012 the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) engaged the Consortium to work with universities and key stakeholders to improve the UES, including in its use to inform student choice and continuous improvement. The Consortium is led by A/Professor Hamish Coates (ACER) and Professors Richard James (CSHE) and Kerri-Lee Krause (UWS). This research is managed by Dr Rebecca Taylor and Ali Radloff (ACER). The work is informed by the UES Project Advisory Group (PAG) which includes experts from across the sector. Further information can be found on the ACER website.

For further information contact Professor Keith Trigwell.