The number of University of Canberra students who finish their degrees within six years has reached a record low, new figures show, as the federal Education Minister warns institutions to keep a "laser focus" on their students' outcomes.
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Fewer than 60 per cent of UC's domestic undergraduates who started their degree in 2010 had finished by 2015. The figure was below the national average of 65.8 per cent and well below the 68.8 per cent UC recorded when data was first collected in 2005, representing one of Australia's worst drop-offs.
The University of Canberra's four-year completion rates were worse. Just 37.2 per cent of students who started studying in 2012 had finished by 2015 - a dramatic reduction on the 52.2 four-year completion rate recorded by the 2005 cohort.
In contrast, the Australian National University was one of nine universities to record its highest six-year completion rate, with 81.1 per cent of domestic undergraduate students in the 2010 cohort finishing their degrees by 2015.
The number of ANU undergraduate students who finished their degrees within four years remained about 52 per cent between 2005 and 2015.
University of Canberra acting vice-chancellor Nicholas Klomp noted his institution's nine-year completion rates were comparable to the sector average at 71 per cent.
"A large number of the university's students in bachelor degree programs are non-school leavers," he said.
"These include part-time and mature age students, whose studying journey is very different to students joining the university straight after finishing year 12.
"They usually juggle their education and goals with full-time employment and their family responsibilities."
Professor Klomp also pointed out the data "significantly lagged" and said the university had introduced new strategies aimed at supporting students to "successful outcomes" since the 2015 reporting period.
"These include a significant increase in the flexibility of course delivery, along with a renewed focus on work-integrated learning and enhancing the overall student experience, as outlined in the university's new strategic plan," he said.
The federal government data, released Wednesday, was the first to capture the impact of the demand-driven system following the removal of a cap on student numbers in 2012.
Undergraduate enrolments at the University of Canberra grew 11 per cent between 2005 and 2015 while ANU enrolments grew about 23 per cent.
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham called on universities to take responsibility for the students they enrolled. A job outcomes report, also released Wednesday, showed short-term employment outcomes had stagnated at 70.9 per cent compared to previous highs of 83.6 per cent.
Medium-term outcomes were 89.3 per cent compared to a previous high of 92.8 per cent.
"Our universities need to keep a laser focus on student outcomes," Senator Birmingham said.
"It's clear some of our universities need to take a close look at their efforts and do more to support the students they enrol with significant taxpayer subsidies."
Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson hit back.
"Let's speak frankly," she said.
"This type of criticism is really a Trojan horse for the government's crusade to impose new conditions on university funding as part of a broader plan to deliver budget savings."
