Dayton tops international students' satisfaction survey

For the third time in a row, the University of Dayton, Ohio, US, leads in the largest survey of international student satisfaction in the world.

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According to an International Student Barometer (ISB) survey conducted in the fall 2008 semester, the university had the highest average score in three out of four categories of 13 Ohio colleges and universities. It ranked first overall, taking the top spot for learning, living and support services. The survey took feedback from more than 70,000 students at 95 colleges and universities worldwide, including 4,450 international students attending universities in the state of Ohio.

Participating schools use the ISB as an indicator of student satisfaction in areas including student advising, quality of on-campus accommodations, language support, teaching and worship facilities. The University of Dayton utilises survey results to continuously focus on and meet the needs of international students.

Thirty-five percent of the University of Dayton's international student population responded to the survey. Respondents included undergraduate and graduate students, students in the Intensive English Program as well as exchange students. About 460 international students and visiting scholars attend and conduct research at the University of Dayton. The most highly represented countries are India, China and Saudi Arabia.

The University of Dayton, which attracts Indian students to graduate programmes in electrical engineering; chemical and mechanical engineering and computer science, saw an increase last year of about six per cent in the number of Indian students. Indian students make up almost 40 per cent of the University of Dayton's international student population, chiefly as graduate students. About half of the 70 graduate-level Indian students are enrolled in the School of Engineering.

The university ranked No. 1 in the world in the last two surveys (winter semester 2007 and fall semester 2007), and the school's overall satisfaction rating this year is 5.9 percentage points higher than the worldwide average. The Ohio schools participated as a group in the survey, which closed after the results of other schools were counted, making worldwide rankings unavailable.

"This is among the highest ratings we've seen in the markets in which we administer the ISB," said William Archer, Director of International Graduate Insight Group, the organisation that administers the ISB. "The University of Dayton has a number of areas where they achieve extraordinary ratings from their students.

"Perhaps the most significant testament to quality is the exceptional number of University of Dayton international students who said they would recommend the University to others," Archer said.

"This survey has been a great tool to focus our efforts on meeting the needs of international students," said Amy Anderson, Director, Center for International Programs, University of Dayton.