Murdoch has unrivalled standing amongst university students as an institution where the teaching fits their needs and satisfaction is guaranteed.
In 10 of the past 11 years Murdoch has been awarded a maximum 5-star rating for Graduate Satisfaction by the Good Universities Guide, an achievement that places Murdoch in the top ranks of Australian Universities.
Why? “Murdoch has a unique culture which centres around good two-way communication between staff and students,” says Professor Jan Thomas, Pro Vice Chancellor, Academic. “Staff take a genuine interest in the concerns and needs of students. Whenever we survey our students, the same thing keeps coming up – they really enjoy being at Murdoch and they value their teachers.”
“Murdoch has fostered a unique culture which centres around good two-way communication between staff and students”
Professor Jan Thomas
It is particularly evident amongst first year students, who are given a lot more attention than most. “Looking after the newcomers is a tradition and sets the scene for the years that follow. We call it the ‘Murdoch ethos’ – making sure first year students are quickly welcomed into the Murdoch family.”
One contributor to the high levels of satisfaction amongst the 13,000 students is the Foundation Units Program for first year undergraduates. No matter what their career choice, students must also choose one Foundation Unit which includes material from several discipline areas, along with university study skills.
“It’s our way of introducing them to the broad skills needed for interdisciplinary university study,” says Professor Thomas. “Learning across disciplines ensures students are able to value information from many sources and see the world from many different angles, and that is important for work and life in the future.”
The approach fits with the worldwide trend to double degrees, resulting in not only career choices for graduates but also multi-skilled workers for employers. “We’re proud of this approach; it’s one of our strengths and both students and industry are delighted with the results,” she said.
