Student Engagement - Results of the AUSSE

In 2007, ANU participated in the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE), run by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). The AUSSE is designed to measure a student's engagement with educationally enriching activities.

Survey Sample and Response Rates

The ANU sample population for the survey was 2,574 undergraduates, with responses received from 476 students (response rate of 18.5%). The Australian sample population was 49,899 undergraduates, with 6,605 responses received (13.2% response rate). The samples included both first year (new to university) and later year students. ACER advised that the AUSSE offers indicative rather than definitive results, and urged that these results should be treated with caution, especially when sample sizes were so small.

Survey Results: Comparing the ANU and Australian Cohorts

The results for all surveyed students showed there were little to no effect differences between the ANU and Australian results in the areas of academic challenge and workload (Academic Challenge scale), relationships with peers and academics (Student and Staff Interactions, and Supportive Learning Environments scales) as well as extra-curricular activities and community engagement (Enriching Educational Experiences scale).

ANU First Year respondents made slightly fewer class presentations, worked less often with other students during class and participated less in community-based projects than their Australian counterparts, as identified by a small negative effect difference on the Active Learning scale. Both First Year and Later Year students at the ANU engaged less than other Australian respondents in blending academic learning with workplace experience and an exploration of applying learning in the workplace. This is identified by a small to medium negative effect difference on the Work Integrated Learning scale. Without further analysis, it is difficult to ascertain if the strong work-placement in vocationally-based disciplines, such as nursing and teaching, impacted the national results.

Survey Results: Comparing ANU Internal Cohorts

When comparing the ANU Later Year responses with ANU First Year responses, the results suggest that ANU Later Year respondents were more engaged in educationally purposeful activities than ANU First Year respondents. These activities include academic challenge and workload as well as extra-curricular activities and community engagement, shown by small positive effect differences in the Academic Challenge and Enriching Educational Experiences scales.

Later Year students were also more active in their learning, both inside and outside the classroom and had stronger relationships with other students and academic staff. They were also more likely to participate in work integrated learning. These results were identified by medium to large positive effect differences in each of the Active Learning, Student and Staff Interactions, and Work Integrated Learning scales. When national results are made available, it will be worth investigating if the same phenomena are occurring at the national level.

The ANU Student Experience

When respondents were asked to evaluate the entire educational experience at their institution, 84% of ANU respondents rated the experience as either ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’, compared with a national figure of 77%. The rating of ‘Excellent’ was particularly strong at ANU acknowledged by 41% of the respondents, compared with 25% nationally. Students were also asked if they would go to the same institution if they could start all over again, with 90% of ANU students in agreement, compared to 85% nationally. At ANU, 56% of respondents selected ‘Definitely Yes’, while the national figure was much lower at just 41%.

Full Report

A summary report is available from the AUSSE homepage.

• AUSSE 2007 Student Engagement Report

For further information or analysis, please contact Leone Nurbasari on extension 54579.