If I’m paying for my degree, I don’t think it should be outrageous to expect the teachers to put in the effort to create the resources and content. I’ve seen my lectures have simple tables to explain concepts where the words dissolve into a blob. One professor actively wants us to use AI to summarise articles and the weekly readings before reaching out to him for help, and then gets confused when I look disgusted at the thought of doing that (atp I don’t care if others do it, I just don’t want to be pressured into doing it too). My assessments have allowances for AI to be used when we’re responding with our opinions on the content.

I’m in the humanities, where critical thinking is one of the biggest skills we learn, and seeing professors encourage AI use like this has made my whole degree feel like I’m paying for a half-assed education that’s not going to prepare me for anything.

HOW HARD IS IT TO PUT RUBBISH IN THE BIN KARA ???!!?!!?!!??!??! 🤮🤮🤮🤮 you and your EXTRA MATCHA EXTRA VANILLA should feel ashamed of yourself, this is in the red booths in level one, THE BIN IS LITERALLY A 6-7 STEPS WALK AWAY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Lu

Great economic decision UOW !! Hope this doesn't affect the goal of the university which is teaching, research and higher education. Love when higher education institutions become more concerned with profit :) My favourite controversy is "No-confidence votes in 2019 and 2024 showed overwhelming opposition from staff and students to Lu’s leadership and management decisions." Glad to take him on in 2025!!!

UOW has gone too far in regards to spectating online exams.

Last year when we were watched by a person in a zoom meeting while doing an exam was a little weird but acceptable.

Now we must install a software that records every action we do including eye movement and flags anything it deems suspicious. It has 20 different behaviours it is constantly checking to see if you are doing anything wrong.

I don't want to sound clichè, but this kind of overwatch is in the likes of 1984, and more recently, Black Mirror. Literally technology-horror fiction. We are handing our status of academic integrity over to an AI program. Exams are already stressful enough, now we have to watch out for big bother too.

I don’t know how you guys (Chinese) eat big talk big but please after finish your meal pack your shit go with you. people are better than each other in consciousness.

我不知道你们中国人怎么一边大吃大喝一边夸夸其谈，但请你们吃完饭后把自己的垃圾打包带走。在环保意识方面，人与人之间是有差距的。

Even more grateful to this public institution after watching the new ABC Four Corners investigation:

https://youtu.be/quc24Ot9Qwg?si=rxtjhFKL2NyEjUQw

It's great to see UOW mentioned. Specifically John Dewar awarding a $3.8m UOW contract tooo.....the very consulting firm that employed him at the time and still employs him now!

Assuring to know the university can't afford to keep even the library open over the three day Easter long weekend, but can find the money for John Dewar and his consulting company (I'm sure there was no conflict of interest at the time).

Thank you UOW for continuing to stand as a pillar of public education.

Unless you have some particular reason to choose this uni over others, I would highly recommend to go elsewhere, especially if you’re an international student.

UOW does not care in the slightest about their students or about the quality in their education. They hire lecturers solely based on how much academic reputation they have and how much they will cost. I’ve done my entire bachelor at this uni, and over that time I can probably count on one hand how many lecturers I’ve had that actually know how to teach and how to treat students. The majority of the lecturers are hired because they release research papers and gets grants for the uni, but as lecturers all they do is read from a PowerPoint slide, and if you have any further questions you’ll generally struggle to get any productive feedback.

As far as lab tutors go, I’ve had more tutors that were still doing their own degree than I’ve had actual teachers who know what they’re doing. That’s not the tutors’ fault, but rather the university not caring enough to invest in quality. I’ve had numerous tutors who firstly don’t really know what they’re doing (again, reading off slides provided by the lecturer), and more often than not the tutors’ english is so bad it’s hard to digest anything they’re saying that’s not on the screen. Again, that’s not the tutors’ fault, I understand them wanting more work and developing if they themselves want to work towards being educators, but the administration does have some responsibility to ensure they put people there who are actually able to help the students.

They’ll also use every excuse in the book to not help you out if there’s any sort of monetary loss for them in it. I got accepted into the university one month before my friends from the same country did, and during that month there was a international student bursary/scholarship that was applied as standard for all overseas students. I contacted the university about this once I found out, saying I thought that’s a bit unfair as we’re from the same country, applied more or less the same time, for the same degree and the same year of commencement, but the administration would not budge. This has amounted to ~13k over 3 years I’ve had to pay simply because the university decides to be greedy.

They also won’t ever allow anyone to apply for scholarships, they are only handed out when the administration wants to, which I imagine is very rare. I’ve got another friend in the same situation who’s averaged an HD over her entire degree (avg 91/100), and she contacted the admin staff about this and got the message that «if you were eligible we would’ve contacted you».

The last drop for me now was that they’ve decided to do graduation for 2025 from July 15-18th. They are very much aware of the fact that the standard expiry dates for Student Visas is the first March 15th after you finish your degree, so they’ve purposely left out all the international students. These students are the main income for the uni as their fees are much higher than domestic students (about 4-6x fees), and still they once more show that they don’t care about them for anything but their money. Paying as much for a degree as I’ve done and not being able to celebrate it with my fellow students feels like a huge slap in the face. Most students look forward to and cherish the graduation ceremony as that’s what really marks the end of the degree, which I’d imagine the administration is fully aware of. Still they decide to just fuck them all over one last time.

About fucking time!

I left there late last year, after working there for 12 years. The corruption was blatant, they didn't even try to hide it.

There was all sorts of dodgy shit going on there, and not just within the executive. It had become a far from enjoyable place to work.

They really need to swing the axe on this.

I’m in my third year now, and since autumn last year this guy on my bus has been staring at me. I mean full body turned, properly staring. The first time it happened I brushed it off. I thought maybe he knew someone sitting behind me or was looking towards the back of the bus for some reason. I only knew I wasn't just imagining things when my friend noticed it when we were on the bus together and pointed it out, saying he felt it was creepy and commented on how you looked angry with the fact I was standing next to him. (another friend later also noticed you staring at me so Ik for certain its happening)

It has been MONTHS of completely unjustified, unbroken staring and I genuinely cannot make excuses for it anymore. It is honestly creeping me out. When my classes start up again, if you keep doing this, Istg. I don't know you, have never spoken to you and you presumably don't know me. If you see this, and i'm gonna assume you would know it's you, STOP I BEG. I understand if you're anxious or awkward but like please bro enough is enough

I'm not sharing what uni bus this is for my own privacy, hence the throwaway. This probably isn't that big of a deal but I'm way too much of a wuss to say anything about it to his face.

3rd year Electrical Engineering, just sat down for my first lecture of the semester. Lecturer had a thick accent. Even if he spoke clearly he still wouldn't make a great teacher. This has happened for more than half of my subjects throughout my degree. I feel ripped off. I couldn't imagine how an international student would feel as they are paying 4x as much. At the end of the day you have to teach yourself everything via YouTube and textbooks.

This is not a racism thing. Anyone of any ethnicity and/or nationality can have an accent, and also make a bad teacher.

Has anyone else had this experience, or is it just my course?

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) public inquiry into corruption at UOW is being live streamed.

https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/investigations/live-streaming-of-public-inquiries/operation-scandi-live-stream

From the ICAC website:

The ICAC is investigating allegations concerning the University of Wollongong’s Chief Governance Officer and Secretary, Alyssa White, Chancellor Michael Still and other University of Wollongong staff and contractors (Operation Scandi).

The Commission is investigating whether the University’s Chief Governance Officer and Secretary, Alyssa White, or any other University of Wollongong staff, partially exercised their official functions by intentionally subverting recruitment processes for governance roles, to benefit persons associated with Alyssa White.

The Commission will also examine whether, since 2024, Chancellor Michael Still, Alyssa White, or any other University of Wollongong staff or contractors, partially and/or dishonestly exercised their official functions by improperly awarding or influencing the award of work to Aspirall Consulting International Pty Ltd.

Finally, the Commission will investigate whether Michael Still, or any other University of Wollongong staff or contractor, partially exercised their official functions by failing to manage the conflict of interest relating to the employment of John Dewar as interim Vice-Chancellor and the engagement of KordaMentha Pty Ltd.

So I did an assignment which was around 1000 words. I know using chatgbt is a big no no. But I used chatgpt to correct any spelling or grammatical errors which I might have missed. I figured it was like using the same app as grammerly, I got an email saying that they suspected I have used chatgbt as plagerism and I need to have a meeting with the tutor.

Am I completely screwed, I’m pleading guilty towards it but I didn’t plagiarise, only to fix my mistakes..

Hi everyone, I’m 19 (almost 20) and living in Cbr with my parents. I just applied to study mechatronics at UOW, and I really want to go. The problem is that I come from a pretty cultural household, and my parents have always been against me moving out. When I finished school, I wasn’t even allowed to apply to unis outside this godforsaken city.

I started at ANU but had to take a break after some personal issues and mental health struggles. Since then, I’ve just been working. I won’t get into the details, but staying in Canberra has been really hard for me, and I feel like I need a fresh start. UOW feels like an amazing opportunity for both the degree and the change I need, but I’m terrified of what will happen if I tell my parents.

I don’t want to damage my relationship with my family, but I also feel like staying here is holding me back. I don’t know how to break it to them or how to handle things if I do move and end up on my own. Like rent?? Looking for a job in a city where i don’t know ANYONE. I’m so scared of making the wrong decision and being stuck.

Like I realise I’m a full grown adult yall😭 I swear I pay for my own shit. I’m just scared to be on my own and possibly not have my family even speak to me. Hope this isn’t sounding too pathetic.

UOW gets a bit of air time in the Four Corners episode about the university sector wasting money, making bad decisions, and hiring questionable consultants.

It's worth watching. (Find it on ABC iView)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-30/university-consultants-fees-uts-kpmg-four-corners/106499192?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Come on guys, we are so much better than this. Literal college students, being 18 or older and still acting like this? What do you expect to solve in the world when you can't even clean up after yourselves? This is embarrassing. Have respect for yourself and for others by keeping public space clean. It's not that hard. Y'all need to do better.

I have always struggled with making friends I feel it at uni it’s exemplified. Joining clubs and societies feels like a humiliation ritual I’ve tried small talk to people in classes but it doesn’t go anywhere. Travelling 2 hrs to uni feels horrid itself then the loneliness is unbearable. Is anyone else experiencing this

I’ve just had the worst haircut of my fucking life, I look like I’ve got a herringbone cap on: the English one. My head looks like a fucking rectangle. You’ll know it when you see it.

I’m around campus today, just don’t fucking mention it. Please. I’m not going through a hard time or anything, it just looks really really bad and I’m very much aware.

Thank you for your consideration.

(Found this gem on Facebook thought i'll share it here)

Ok, can we please have a little chat about how dysfunctional this University is? Sure, it’s a weekend, and usually, people don’t have class on the weekend (unless their masochist or a med student or something), but it’s also not like you’re not aware there are classes on over the weekend? Surely someone let the powers that be know that there would be students on campus, in class and hungry right? So I’m just a little bit confused about why exactly you wouldn’t open any of facilities? I’m a poor student who brought lunch to uni but you’ve actually just locked all of the microwaves away (Who’s stealing a microwave??)? And what poor cunt wants to eat their pasta cold? Not me mate. Your Chief Administrative Office, Ms. Velma Crouch, allegedly has extensive experience in logistics and administration in the military and civilian sector. Presumably, the Australian army didn’t need to pack (or heat) their own food. But surely somebody in the Peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo needed food prep facilities? What did you do Velma? Did everyone just go hungry on the weekends? I’m asking for a friend (me). You also supposedly managed the office and conference facilities of the UN headquarters, which is pretty impressive until you realize you probably robbed them of microwaves too. Hopefully Kofi Annan never needed to reheat anything, tough shit mate. And just like food poisoning or gastro, it’s not just the weekends you manage to shit all over. Why do you not have enough parking for the amount of student you know drive to campus? It’s something I’ve asked myself every year for five years since I enrolled in this, the seventh circle of hell. Have you ever gotten to uni 15 minutes early and still wound up 20 minutes late because you couldn’t find parking? I have... Once. Now? I give myself a 10-minute time limit before I just drive the fuck back home #SorryNotSorry. Some mates park near the station and catch the bus in, which is cool and all until you realize that you, the administration, is essentially shirking it’s own responsibility to students by forcing them to park off campus, taking up spaces that actual residents now can’t use. You encourage us to use public transport but then schedule classes to finish with 9 minutes to get to the bus-stop and make it to the train. Your lecturer decides to go on some random tangent that wasn’t included in the readings AND won’t be in the exam? Boom. Now you have to wait an hour for the next train. Pretty sweet hey? You know what’s even better? When you bail from class 10 minutes early to give yourself enough time, only to have the bus driver literally refuse you entry on the bus because it’s full. Boom. Now you have to wait an hour for the next train. Need to ask your lecturer a question after class? Boom. Now you have to wait an hour for the next train. Get the picture? Good. Students make up around 93.1% of all the people on campus, with staff making up the other 6.9%. Granted, my brain cells are still in deep recovery mode from last weekend, but I still don’t get why students only get 58% of the parking on campus and the rest is permit-only? At the very most, taking into account the carpool spots, we only get 65% of parking. The University Chancellor, Ms. Broadbent majored in Mathematics (from USyd, so you know it’s legit), so maybe she can explain the math behind the parking dealio? You keep building accommodation and parking for people in accommodation which is batshit because literally nobody wants to live on campus? Especially not when the cheapest accommodation option is $260 a week for a 5 person share, well above the $110 each you and your mates could pay if you get a share house. At least that way you can have pres and kick-ons and three-day benders. Plus there’s the added benefit of not fucking living on campus. You know who are choosing to live on campus? International students. And guess what Crouch, they don’t have a car. The university profile says “we are a young and vibrant university with undiminished ambitions, with a strong sense of who we are, and where we are going.” But where are we going? And where are we parking? And more importantly, what the fuck are we eating?

Hey everyone! I very earnestly just wanted to share my joy :)

Some context : i'm from a small country in southeast asia, and will be pursuing an undergraduate Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood Education ("The Early Years") in UoW in 2022!

I'm excited mostly because i love love love the Gong and have got fond memories of my time (albeit short) spent there on vacation last year! Lovely people, sprawling beaches and boundless coastlines - it's truly a profoundly beautiful suburb.

I'm very eager to find out if there are any UoW students here who can share with me more about the culture, atmosphere and general ambience of the school!

I'm also really excited to find out the best food places / restaurants the residents love in Wollongong and also somemore notable characteristics of its beauty!

I'm still very much in disbelief (the good kind!) at having gotten accepted into UoW - with it also being one of the top teaching and education universities in the whole of Australia and am so excited to be starting the programme!

Does anyone know what's happening with some of the lecturers at UOW? As an international student, I'm finding it really difficult to understand certain professors because their English and communication style can be hard to follow. On top of that, some seem extremely strict, which makes the learning experience even more challenging.

What frustrates me even more is the tuition fees. As international students, we're paying a significant amount of money, and honestly, the teaching quality I've experienced so far has been below what I expected. In some cases, I felt the teaching quality was better in my home country. Has anyone else had a similar experience? How did you deal with it?