Abstract

The second ANU Poll has taken the pulse of the Australian public on higher education and political mood and found a generally positive view of universities, and a high — though slightly declining — degree of satisfaction with the way the country is heading.

ANU Poll found Australians rate the economy and the environment as the two dominant problems facing the country, with the economy slightly ahead. At the time of the first ANU Poll in March 2008, the environment was ranked first, followed by the economy. Housing affordability and interest rates have receded somewhat for voters.

ANU Poll finds a strong sentiment amongst Australians that a university degree is a virtual necessity in today’s world. There is a strong sentiment that ability rather cost should determine who receives a university education but concern that access to universities has diminished over the past 10 years.

The poll also found general concern about the reduced level of government funding for universities and a sentiment the decline in funding had gone too far.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb AC said the ANU Poll was timely, given the Australian Government’s declaration it would oversee an ‘Education Revolution’ and the current Review of Higher Education. “It’s appropriate and timely that the Australian public — who as taxpayers provide a large chunk of the funding for Australia’s universities — get to voice an opinion on the place and performance of those universities.”

“The main takeaway messages from ANU Poll for the Government as it grapples with the complexities of higher education reform are fairly simple: Australians are concerned about fair and equitable access to our universities; they view university as one important way of improving the job prospects of their kids, but not the only avenue to success; and they believe that the decline in public funding for universities has gone too far.

“But to justify improved funding, we universities have to try something new, and not simply expect more money for more of the same. It is critical to the future of this country that there is equitable access to the best possible education. And we will have achieved that when there are as many disadvantaged students in the ‘best’ courses in the ‘best’ universities as there are in the others.”

This is the second ANU Poll. ANU Poll is a survey of Australian public opinion of matters on matters of national importance. ANU Poll differs from other opinion polls by benchmarking Australia against international opinion.

Contact

For further information contact Jane O’Dwyer on 02 6125 5001 or 0416 249 231.

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