In a time when every university is being asked to do more with less, sector benchmarking has never been more important. Yet, benchmarking isn’t just about lining up numbers — it’s about asking the right questions to turn data into action.
At Pilbara Group, we’ve spent years helping universities build Activity-Based Cost models that connect academic effort, student load, and financial performance. Our sector benchmarking brings those insights together to let you see how your institution stacks up against the sector — by field of education (FOE), degree level, and year.
🎯 What Should University Leaders Ask of Benchmarking Data?
Benchmarking is only valuable when it provokes the right questions. Here are the questions senior decision-makers — Vice-Chancellors, CFOs, Provosts, and Deans — should be asking of their data.
1️⃣ How does our cost per EFTSL compare across disciplines and degree levels?
Differences in cost can reveal where resource intensity is justified (e.g. laboratory-based programs) and where efficiency improvements are possible.
2️⃣ Are our academic staffing levels sustainable?
Metrics like Academic FTE per EFTSL and EFTSL per Academic FTE highlight teaching workload balance and potential bottlenecks in delivery.
3️⃣ How are our salary and non-salary expenses shifting over time?
Understanding how much of your spend goes to people versus operating costs provides early insight into changes in delivery models, technology adoption, or administrative burden.
4️⃣ Are our delivery hours and unit sizes aligned with sector norms?
Delivery intensity often reflects hidden structural differences — such as curriculum complexity or duplicated offerings — that can be adjusted for better alignment and impact.
5️⃣ Which fields deliver the strongest return on resources?
By comparing total expenditure to student load, you can see which programs are thriving and which may need strategic review.
6️⃣ How are we trending over time relative to peers?
Trends across 2021–2024 can reveal whether cost pressures or efficiency changes are institution-specific or sector-wide — a critical insight for forecasting and planning.
💡 Turning Insight into Action
Effective benchmarking goes beyond diagnostics. It informs strategic planning, workforce allocation, and portfolio management — empowering leaders to link financial outcomes with teaching and learning quality.
When you understand not just where you are, but why, you can drive change with confidence.
🧭 See It in Action
We’ve developed two versions of our sector benchmarking model:
- 🎓 Full Benchmarking Model – available to Pilbara clients, offering deep visibility into cost structures, staffing efficiency, and sustainability across every Field of Education.
- 💡 Demo Version – a cut-down sector view open to non-clients, showcasing key financial and operational metrics to illustrate what’s possible.
If you’re ready to explore how your university compares to the sector — or to identify where efficiency, investment, or reform could have the greatest impact — we’d love to show you the model in action.
📊 Try the Demo Benchmarks: Simply add your details in the Request Access area at the bottom of this page: benchmarks-demo.pilbara-insights.com
📩 Contact the Pilbara Group team: pilbaragroup.com/demo