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What Students Need to Know from The National Student Survey

17 June 2010

Sami Benyahia, Director

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What I am going to talk about

The National Student Survey

What students need to know

How they can use the NSS to help inform their choice

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We all have different expectations

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Managing expectations

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What is the National Student Survey is and its purpose

A national survey of UK final year undergraduate students

Data publically available

For prospective students to choose where/what to study

A rich source of information for institutions

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The scope of the NSS

150 HEIs and 120 FE Colleges (HE in FE)

400,000 students annually

More than 6 in 10 students took part

Base: NSS 2009

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The NSS is about the Student learning experience

Teaching on my course

Assessment and feedback

Academic support

Organisation and management

Learning resources

Personal development

Overall satisfaction

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Where are the results: Unistats

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Universities’ websites

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League tables

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What the NSS reveals

High levels of overall satisfaction

Some improvements over the years

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Teaching on my Course

Assessment & Feedback

Organisation & Management

Academic Support

Personal Development

Learning Resources

Overall Satisfaction

Overall NSS results 2005 - 2009% Agree

60%

70%

80%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Overall satisfactionLearning resources

Assessment and feedback

Organisation and management

Academic support

Personal development

Teaching on my course

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Students view HE courses very positively

Students are generally satisfied with their courses

Over 80% students say ‘Overall, I am satisfied with my course’

Students positively evaluate all aspects of teaching and learning

No element of teaching quality is evaluated negatively

Source: The National Student Survey Findings, Paula Surridge, Department of Sociology, University of Bristol

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A diverse HE sector

Students on sandwich courses more satisfied with the quality of their courses than full-time students

Large variations according to subject of study

But no clear divide between Science and Arts & Humanities

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Less enthusiasm about Assessment/Feedback

Assessment and Feedback is least positively evaluated

Older students more positive about Assessment and Feedback

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Age matters

Older students more positive about Teaching and Learning

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Disability

Students with dyslexia less satisfied with their courses

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Ethnicity

Students from Asian ethnic backgrounds less positive about their courses than white students

Students from black ethnic backgrounds more positive about Assessment and Feedback and Organisation and Management

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Size matters

Students in small institutions more positive about Teaching and Learning

…more positive about Academic Support

…more positive Personal Development.

…more satisfied with the overall teaching quality

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Regional divide

Students in the London area less satisfied

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87%

79%

83%

82%

Teaching on my course (% agree)

Base: c.223,000 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2009

Staff are good at explaining things

Source: Ipsos MORI

Staff have made the subject interesting

Staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching

The course is intellectually stimulating

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70%

72%

58%

63%

57%

Assessment and feedback (% agree)

Base: c.223,000 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2009

The criteria used in marking have been clear in advance

Source: Ipsos MORI

Assessment arrangements and marking have been fair

Feedback on my work has been prompt

I have received detailed comments on my work

Feedback on my work has helped me clarify things I did not

understand

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72%

81%

69%

Academic support (% agree)

Base: c.223,000 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2009

I have received sufficient advice and support with my

studies

Source: Ipsos MORI

I have been able to contact staff when I needed to

Good advice was available when I needed to make study

choices

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77%

69%

69%

Organisation and management (% agree)

Base: c.223,000 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2009

The timetable works efficiently as far as my activities are

concerned

Source: Ipsos MORI

Any changes in the course or teaching have been

communicated effectively

The course is well organised and is running smoothly

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81%

85%

76%

Learning resources (% agree)

Base: c.223,000 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2009

The library resources and services are good enough for my needs

Source: Ipsos MORI

I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to

I have been able to access specialised equipment, facilities

or room when I needed to

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78%

81%

78%

Personal development (% agree)

Base: c.223,000 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2009

The course has helped me present myself with confidence

Source: Ipsos MORI

My communication skills have improved

As a result of the course, I feel confident in tackling unfamiliar problems

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More information and data available

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/nss/data

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rdreports/2006/rd22_06

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/supportingresearch/nss

http://www.unistats.com

http://www.ipsos-mori.com/nss

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Thank youFor further information contactsami.benyahia@ipsos.com020 8861 8148

© 2010 Ipsos MORI – all rights reserved