Why you should consider the non-GO8 in your state

September 01, 2013

Group of Eight universities aren’t the only high performers, according to The Good Universities Guide 2014.

While the Guide’s ratings show that Group of Eight universities are in the highest demand among school leavers, with seven out of eight earning five stars for ‘Student Demand’, many were outperformed in the key areas of educational experience and graduate outcomes.

Not one of the 11 universities around the country that achieved five-star ratings in the educational experience categories of ‘Teaching Quality’, ‘Generic Skills’ and ‘Overall Satisfaction’ was a Group of Eight member.

One of these top-performing non-Go8s is Western Australia’s Edith Cowan University, which attributes its strong educational experience ratings to the university’s student-centred approach, industry-relevant courses and course flexibility.

ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Kerry Cox said that prospective students should base their decision on identifying a course that they will be passionate about and then finding a university that can provide that course in a form that suits them.

“They should choose the degree that will help them reach their career goals and suit their personal needs, rather than focusing on perceptions of prestige or brand,” Professor Cox said.

While the Group of Eights achieved some five-star ratings in the graduate outcomes categories of ‘Graduate Starting Salary’, ‘Getting a Full-time Job’ and ‘Positive Graduate Outcomes’, seven other universities earned this same honour, indicating that Go8 graduates aren’t the only ones who can look forward to excellent job prospects. 

Among these high-performing universities for graduate outcomes is the University of Wollongong, which credits its graduates’ success in the workforce to the involvement of professional and employer groups in the university’s course review processes, its strong focus on employability and its award-winning Careers Service.

“Potential students should certainly widen their scope beyond the Group of Eight as there is excellent teaching and research being done at a range of universities across Australia, including Wollongong,” Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor John Patterson said.

“They should choose an institution which aligns with their values and personality.”

Professor Fred Hilmer, Vice-Chancellor of prominent Go8 member the University of New South Wales, said that Group of Eight universities offer a number of advantages to prospective students, which is evidenced by their high demand, especially among high-ATAR school leavers.

“Go8 universities are ranked among the world’s best, based largely on research excellence, but this of course also helps to inform the quality of their courses and graduate outcomes,” Professor Hilmer said. 

“That said, I believe students should think carefully about their educational aims and career objectives and assess their university of choice on that basis.”