Universities enjoy high public confidence, new survey finds

People have more confidence in universities than they have in hospitals, government, the public service and the aged care system.

Trusted.

Universities and schools enjoy a higher level of public confidence than most public institutions, coming in ahead of hospitals, government, the public service and the aged-care system, according to new research.

However, confidence in universities and schools declined during the pandemic, according to a new report, titled Attitudes toward Education in Australia, from the Australian National University Centre for Social Research and Methods.

Surveys showed confidence in universities fell from 70.9 per cent in 2020 to 67.9 per cent in 2023, while confidence in schools fell more sharply, from 78 per cent to 63.2 per cent, over the same period.

Only the police, with a 70.7 per cent confidence level, are ahead of universities (67.9 per cent) in the 2023 survey. This compares to confidence in hospitals and the health system (62.9 per cent), state/territory governments (56.1 per cent), the public service (55 per cent), the federal government (48.4 per cent), and the aged-care system (31.2 per cent).

But only 14.2 per cent of people opted for the statement that a university education was necessary for success in today’s work world, compared to the alternative view that there are many ways to succeed without a university education

The survey also found more Australians were satisfied with the performance of private schools (73.8 per cent) than public schools (54.6 per cent). It also revealed a strong view that the school funding balance should be changed, with 80.9 per cent saying more money should be spent on public schools, and 55.3 per cent saying less money should go to private schools.

The 2023 survey canvassed nearly 4500 people, providing a balanced sample of the Australian population.