Thinking of going to uni or TAFE? Ask the hard questions now

University marketing departments try to project the image of happy, smiling students and teachers sitting under a tree (or in a state-of-the-art classroom) deep in Platonic dialogue. Alas, the reality "on the shop floor" is very different. It's hard to genuinely smile when you've wracked up a $50,000 HECS debt.

I further suggest, and without exaggeration, that 25 percent of university schools or departments are dysfunctional. Their personnel consumed with internecine political battles over access to scarce resources.

As a former programs leader I used to sit with my colleagues at Open Days and enrolments and answer hundreds of questions from prospective students about facilities, timetables, contact hours and what sort of jobs could they expect to apply for after graduation. They were all good questions.

I thought though that because these prospective undergraduate or postgraduate students were committing themselves to three of fours years with us (and paying big money), that they should ask further tough, pointed questions. And they are:

• What is the staff attrition rate for this program? Meaning - are the staff happy?
• What is the student attrition rate? Meaning - are the students happy?
• Exactly how many students from last year’s graduation have obtained fulltime jobs in this discipline? Meaning - is there industry demand for graduates?
• Can I speak to a currently enrolled student? Meaning - I want the inside gossip.
• When was the last time the curriculum was updated? Meaning - am I learning new information?
• How efficient is your student management system? Meaning - will I get my results on time?
• Are there any hidden costs? Meaning - I didn't know I had to pay $800 in textbooks.
• Can I see some of the teachers’ publications? Meaning - are they doing research as well?
• Can I see some examples of previous students work? Meaning - I want to gauge the standard.
• How many students are there in a tutorial? Meaning - are you packing students in like sardines?

These questions get to the 'nitty gritty' of an educational organisation’s ability to deliver quality research, teaching and services. I am not suggesting that all universities or TAFE's lie about their ability to delivery good education, but as stated, some 'gild the lily'.

Vice Chancellor of Macquarie University, Professor Steven Schwartz agrees. In his recent address to the national convention of the Public Relations Institute of Australia he said:

"We all claim to have distinguished lecturers who adore teaching; we all offer a wide selection of interesting courses; we all provide the best in sporting and recreational facilities. Needless to say, all of our graduates go on to successful careers.

"Not long ago, I was in Singapore reading the local paper, The Straits Times. There, on page four, were advertisements for three different Australian universities. Each claimed to have, and I quote, 'Australia's No.1 business school'. I guess the editorial staff found it amusing to juxtapose these advertisements, but it must certainly have been embarrassing for those universities - embarrassing, but not really serious."

TAFE or university PR specialists are not going to flag that their institution is in a financial free fall, matched only by its teaching and learning or research ranking. So they commit the sin of omission.

This a major mistake because journalists are investigating universities that are fudging poor graduate employment figures and who hide their high staff turnover rates.