Are Australian Universities lowering their standards?

Since I graduated from the University of New England in 1999, I have noticed what I call the decline in quality education. More and more the substance and quality seem to be fast disappearing from course structure and attendance at university is just all about what job a person can obtain at the end of their degree. I believe universities are no longer places which focus on thought or on education but more so places where standards have been lowered just to meet funding and quota placements.

It really is concerning when Australian universities are examined more closely. Gone are the days where thought and constructive thinking were once endemic. Today's student is just a number with the main focus on quantity with little or no understanding or implementation of practical or theoretical use afterward.

The University of Queensland for instance I believe had deteriorated in standards over the last 10 or more so years. Today's student for instance seems poorly prepared to know how to access the library and seems largely unaware and under prepared for the responsibilities that befall them once they leave the academic environment. I no longer see people who are prepared to think but more so see a selfish and me focused environment which demonstrates little incentive when preparation is required for the outside world. Universities have always unfortunately had an "Ego central" mentality and working at UQ has exposed me to a herd mentality. I grew tired of having to 'baby' young people who should really be prepared for tertiary study. These people have undergone also a schooling system that has failed them also in that it does not prepare them for the basics and the necessary structures for tertiary study. Instead of creating thinkers and analysts etc, the tertiary environment seems to be creating once again a herd mentality. The good student who is self disciplined and wanting to further their knowledge just seems to be in the minority. It is truly concerning the way universities have gone. With the lowering of standards and watering down of course work, people are not thinking but more so just being spoon fed information which seems to do little in making them thinkers of the future. It is about time that quality and substance re-emerges within the university and schooling environments for the focus on filling quotas and making universities into selfish businesses is not going in their favour.

When closing examining the tertiary environment the fault is not with the student but more so the education system itself. Without being taught the basics and provided with the necessary foundations, a student is poorly prepared for the outside world. It really concerns me about the state of the future. If students are not learning the basic fundamentals of being able to write properly, understand basic comprehension, and quality then how will they go beyond the school and tertiary environment. A person has to think for themselves within a tertiary environment and also have an open mind. They need to be able to weigh up information and be intellectually curious to assist them in their thirst for knowledge. I personally believe universities have failed to equip persons with the basic fundamentals of learning and the main focus today is on what job a person can get while attendance at university is just wasted on pointless pursuits. The university should return to a thinking environment with the main focus on learning and the implementation of a core structure. That is my opinion any way.