Measuring Student Quality Variables and the Implications for Management Practices in Higher Education Institutions: an Australian and international student perspective

The issue of quality is now a significant theme in higher education management. This paper examines the issue of quality as determined by Australian and international students. A scale comprising 26 quality variables was developed, verified and tested on a cohort of 351 students. Four factors were found and used to test a series of hypotheses and research questions. Results indicated a hierarchy amongst the factors and that academic instruction was the most critical aspect. There were significant differences between international and Australian students’ perceptions. It was also found that quality perceptions were stable over the years of study. The implications for university management are discussed.