The University of Queensland has the best overall rating of all Queensland universities and one of the best Australian university ratings in the 1998 edition of the Good Universities Guide to Australian Universities.
The University received the maximum five-star rating for prestige, teaching, research performance, getting jobs, and positive graduate outcomes.
'UQ is at the top of academic and student status hierarchies in Queensland...,' the unofficial consumers' guide, edited by Dean Ashenden and Sandra Milligan, says.
'The Federal Government's quality reviews put UQ in the top tiers.
'A very big research institution, UQ is one of Australia's biggest producers of PhDs and ranks high on all research indicators.'
The independent consumer guide, launched on July 24 by the Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs Minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone, provides ratings, rankings, comment and information about Australian higher education institutions.
The guide gave the University of Queensland high marks for learning support. It cites a big library with strengths in book and serial numbers.
It also praises good access to computers and to the Net. 'The St Lucia library rates very well on all counts (opening hours, seating and size of collection) and it includes a ?state of the art multimedia facility',' the guide says.
'Special support (is) provided for international and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with disabilities and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
'PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) are being introduced in first-tier prerequisite subjects ranging from biochemistry to psychology.'
The guide highlights a range of campus facilities and programs.
'Of special interest to women is a women's studies course available for arts students; security measures including escort services to cars and a security bus which operates on and off campus; and ?active support' for women entering non-traditional areas of study,' the guide says.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the University was satisfied that its high-quality performance had again been recognised by an independent assessment.
'The ratings confirm that the University of Queensland provides educational opportunities equal to best practice nationally and internationally,' Professor Hay said.
For more information, contact Professor Hay, telephone 07 3365 1300.
