Bond University is once again Australia’s top university for student retention, according to the latest edition of The Good Universities Guide.
The Guide’s latest rankings, released today, show Bond increasing its lead over other Australian universities for retention, as students respond to the Gold Coast-based institution’s accelerated learning programs, small class sizes and student-centred approach.
Bond’s student retention rate is now 16 per cent above the national average, up 2 per cent on the previous year.
For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Guide also gave Bond University five-star ratings for both student experience, and overall experience.
Bond University received the maximum five-star rating in each of the six categories the Guide uses to measure student experience. The university topped Australia in Learner Engagement, Learning Resources, Skills Development, Student Support, and Teaching Quality, and was best in Queensland for Overall Experience.
Bond University Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Keitha Dunstan, said the university was proud of the results, which reflected Bond’s ongoing commitment to its students.
“We provide a superior student experience that ensures the best possible learning outcomes for our graduates. Students come to Bond because they understand that we value them as individuals and that our academics will partner with them to ensure they achieve their goals. Our high retention rates are testament to the fact our students feel valued and supported with excellent services in an environment where every teacher knows their name.”
Bachelor of Journalism student Mia Adams felt Bond’s lecturers and staff went the extra mile to help her succeed.
“You can feel from day one that your career is going to be taken seriously and that the teachers will do their best to help you achieve your goals. Within my first semester, lecturers were putting themselves out to help me gain internships and real-world connections.”
Briana Alexander is studying a Bachelor of Communication, and was drawn to Bond by its smaller class sizes.
“I chose to study at Bond because of the smaller class sizes, which make for a more intimate experience.
This made it a lot easier for me to adapt to coming straight from high school. I felt a part of something. Coming to university was daunting since I knew no-one, but once I realised the adaption is a process that takes time, I was able to fall into a routine and find friends in my classes, in my residence, and I now have a really good group of friends.”
In the 2017/18 undergraduate Student Experience Survey released by the federal Department of Education, 89.4 per cent of students rated their educational experience at Bond University as positive, well ahead of the national average of 79 per cent.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Bond University is Australia’s first private, not-for-profit university, modelled on the traditions of the world’s most elite educational institutions.