Murdoch University.
Camera IconMurdoch University. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Murdoch Uni battles high dropout rate

Jaime ShurmerMelville Gazette

For the first time, completion rates for individual institutions were published in the third release of the federal Department of Education and Training’s cohort study of Completion Rates of Higher Education Students 2005-2014.

According to the cohort survey, for the period 2005-10, the completion rate for domestic Bachelor degrees begun at Murdoch University was slightly higher at 54.1 per cent.

It gradually dropped to 50 per cent for 2007-12 before rising slightly the next year.

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Completion rates then dropped to 49.6 for 2009-14, which is the latest information.

In contrast, 74.5 per cent of UWA students completed their courses within six years.

For Curtin University students, the latest information showed 64.2 per cent finished in the timeframe, and 55.4 per cent graduated from ECU in six years.

On Thursday, Murdoch University deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education Professor Romy Lawson said there were several initiatives in progress to foster student success at Murdoch University.

“To ensure students find their degree relevant, we are continually working on making the curriculum contemporary by consulting with industry and professionals, increasing opportunities for real world learning experiences and augmenting the discipline knowledge and skills with career learning to support employability post-graduation,” he said.

“In order to support student success we offer a number of practical and mentoring schemes, as well as assessments that foster learning and the development of student capabilities.

“Our internal program for developing the teaching abilities of staff has also been recognised by the Higher Education Academy – a prestigious international education body.

“We also recognise that helping students to connect, with each other and staff, is hugely important to their university experience,” prof Lawson said.

“Not only do we work closely with the Murdoch Guild to help achieve this, but we are currently developing a new Student Hub to improve our learning and social spaces.”