The Student Experience
We want to offer everyone who studies at our University the very best student experience and are committed to acting on feedback to ensure we are continuing to meet people’s needs.
Every year the National Student Survey (NSS) allows us to monitor how well we are performing and whether we are meeting student expectations. Where the NSS has highlighted issues, we have been able to respond in a quick and effective manner.
Sally Westney, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience, said: “Student satisfaction surveys give all those who take part a voice about their student experience – and we are listening to their views.”
Feedback from the NSS has led to a number of changes to services across the University; for example, as a result of requests from students weextended the opening hours of our libraries, introduced fairtrade products in our cafés and now have a designated environment officer together with a new institution-wide environment policy.
Some of the changes made in previous years as a result of the NSS
- Extended Library opening hours during peak times of the year
- Additional Library information skills sessions provided
- e-book provision significantly enhanced
- Student email id changed to a firstname.lastname format
- All students were given 100 free print credits
- Internet service in the Halls of Residence was outsourced to provide a better service
- The Faculty of Health revised its policy on moderation and publicised assessment return dates on the assessment calendar
- The Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences implemented a Student Communication Policy to include communicating timetable changes at short notice
- The School of English reviewed mechanisms for returning coursework
- A change of procedure meant that students at Margaret Street could hand in work there rather than at the Gosta Green site
- Extended opening hours of some cafés
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NSS Results 2011
Overall, 80 per cent of our students were satisfied with their course. 87 per cent of our students agreed that staff were good at explaining things to them and 84 per cent said staff were enthusiastic about what they were teaching.
In terms of learning resources, 86 per cent agreed that they had been able to access general IT resources when needed, while 83 per cent said that that the library resources and services met their needs.
84 per cent of students said their communication skills had improved as a result of their studies, while 81 per cent agreed that the course helped them to present themselves with confidence and 80 per cent said that, as a result of their course, they felt confident in tackling unfamiliar problems.
93 per cent of students on our Accounting courses were satisfied overall, as were 93 per cent of our media studies students.
89 per cent of students on Nursing courses are satisfied overall, with 91 per cent agreeing their communication skills had increased as a result of their studies.
94 per cent of students on our Initial Teacher Training course are satisfied overall, with 97 per cent agreeing that staff were good at explaining things.