Ranked 9th overall, excellent results in all criteria – teaching, research, career impact and equity – highlight UOW's all-round strength
The University of Wollongong (UOW) has been named the top university in Australia for equity, and placed equal 9th overall, in the 2024 Australian Financial Review (AFR) Best University Rankings.
The accolade underscores UOW's deep commitment to expanding access to higher education and fostering success for students from all backgrounds.
The AFR Best University Rankings is an annual evaluation of Australian universities, focusing on key performance areas including equity, teaching, research and career impact. Forty universities were included in the 2024 rankings.
UOW's performance across each of those four criteria highlights the University's strong all-round capabilities. UOW ranked among the top 15 in each category, placing 10th for teaching, 13th for research and 15th for career impact, as well as 1st for equity.
Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Professor John Dewar AO was delighted to see UOW recognised as the best in the nation for promoting equity, alongside the excellent results in teaching, research and career impact.
"The University of Wollongong has had a longstanding commitment to expanding access to higher education in the communities we serve, and our performance in these rankings is testament to that," Professor Dewar said.
"Around 40 percent of our students come from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in higher education, and we have a proud history of working closely with our communities to drive increased rates of participation and attainment.
"To rank 9th overall, with only Group of Eight universities placed above us, is an exceptional achievement for our University and a reflection of our accomplishments across each of these fundamental missions of teaching, research, career impact and equity."
Professor Dewar highlighted the initiatives in place and the extensive work done by UOW staff, firstly to make a university education accessible to students from diverse backgrounds and then to support their success at university.
The equity pillar uses Australian Government information on five groups of disadvantaged students: non-English speaking background, disability, Indigenous, low socio-economic status and regional/remote. The information centres on participation of these students, their success relative to others, completions of degrees relative to others and retention of the students.
UOW's regional campuses in Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley, and outer metropolitan campuses in Liverpool and Sutherland, also help to make university more accessible to Indigenous, rural and regional, first-in-family, disability and non-English-speaking-background students.
"This achievement is down to the fantastic work being done by staff across the University. We engage students early, through outreach and school programs, and continue to provide tailored support from enrolment through their university journey," Professor Dewar said.
"Our Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, to name one example, delivers crucial programs to foster participation and engagement for Indigenous students from entry through to completion, including success services, tutoring programs, and scholarships.
"By focusing on the individual needs of each student we drive greater participation and attainment among underrepresented groups in higher education. The Australian Universities Accord reinforces this imperative, and at UOW, we're proud to be a sector leader in this space."
The teaching measure looks at overall experience, teaching quality, skills development, support, learner engagement and learning resources.
The research pillar is based on volume of high-quality publications, collaborations and international connection, evaluations of research quality, engagement and impact, and information on contract research income.
Career impact is based on data on employment, salaries and engagement.
