IHEA members again lead the way in the QILT Student Experience Survey

Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) member institutions continue to be rated the highest in the latest Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey, which was released on Friday 1 November 2024.
Results from the 2023 Student Experience Survey among undergraduates show the high quality of education that students at independent higher education providers are receiving, with IHEA members occupying the top positions across all the key criteria.

IHEA CEO Dr Peter Hendy said that “the quality of education that students receive at independent higher education providers is reflected by IHEA members rated in the top positions in all categories of the survey, including the top 11 positions for quality of entire educational experience”.

“It is a testament to the commitment and quality of these independent providers that they are able to outperform larger, publicly-funded universities to deliver the best educational experience and outcomes for their students”, reflected Dr Hendy.
In addition to the quality of entire educational experience, IHEA member providers achieve the best outcomes in all of the other criteria, namely: skills development; peer engagement; teaching quality and engagement; student support and services; and learning resources.

“At a time when provider quality and student experience is at the forefront of government decision making, it is important that the high quality student experience that occurs at independent higher education providers, in particular IHEA members, is reflected in these decisions”, Dr Hendy said

Amongst all Australian higher education providers, the following IHEA members are rated as the top 11 providers for the quality of entire educational experience are:
1st Marcus Oldham College, the only provider to receive a perfect score of 100
2nd Photography Studies College
3rd Australian College of Theology
4th Sheridan Institute of Higher Education
5th Australian College of Christian Studies
6th Moore Theological College
7th Leaders Institute
8th Adelaide Central School of Art
9th Campion College Australia
10th Christian Heritage College
11th Tabor College of Higher Education

Amongst universities only, IHEA members are also rated as the top universities for quality of entire educational experience:
1st University of Divinity
2nd Avondale University
3rd Bond University

In addition, Torrens University is rated 13th (out of the 42 universities in the survey).

The survey results for postgraduate coursework students are also led by independent higher education providers against all criteria, with IHEA members in the top position in 5 of 6 categories. This includes being rated as the top 17 institutions for quality of entire educational experience, with IHEA members rated in 14 of these positions, including the top rated institution, the Sydney College of Divinity.

IHEA congratulates and acknowledges the stellar performances of independent providers for their performances in the 2023 student experience survey.

Dr Hendy noted that “the strong tradition of IHEA member institutions leading the student experience survey outcomes continues to reaffirm the important role independent higher education plays in Australia and the world class education their students are receiving.”