The University of Wollongong was a big winner in the 2024 Student Experience Survey National Report, beating all other institutions in the country to take out the highest “Overall Educational Experience”, with a positive rating of 80.9 per cent.

However, the CPSU NSW has echoed the concerns of students interviewed in The Illawarra Mercury that cuts to staff will put this at risk.

The newspaper quoted students saying they were “stressed” about the possibility of courses being cut.

“This university offers a world-class education in a thriving, manageable city by the sea,” said CPSU NSW General Secretary Stewart Little. “It is no surprise it rated so well among undergraduates.

“However, these cuts threaten to make studying that much harder.

“Either the university needs to fund its budget cuts another way or else the federal and state governments need to intervene with financial help.

“Education should be treated as an investment, not as an expense.”