Welsh higher education satisfies students
The sixth annual National Student Survey (NSS) has shown that more than four in five of Wales’s students continue to be satisfied with their university course.
Results from the survey show that 82% of respondents in Wales were satisfied with their course. The survey took account of the views of more than 13,000 students studying at Welsh universities and although, after five years of growth, the overall result dropped for the first time by
1 percentage point, the results also saw slightly improved outcomes for some of the areas of most importance to students, including assessment, feedback and academic support.
Students on NHS practice placements were particularly satisfied, with 92% of respondents satisfied that they had been allocated a suitable placement and that their contribution as part of the clinical team during their placement had been valued. The results for assessment and feedback increased by four percentage points since the survey’s inception in 2005, while results for academic support, personal developments and the teaching on their course have also increased over the six years.
Professor Philip Gummett, Chief Executive of HEFCW, said: “The National Student Survey is the best independent indicator we have of the high level of satisfaction with higher education in Wales.
“The questions cover many aspects around a student’s course, and highlight courses’ strengths, as well as areas for improvement. We are pleased to see, for example, the continued improvement in how satisfied students are with the assessment and feedback they get for their courses. Universities continue to tackle the needs of the modern student population in innovative ways, and we hope that their responsiveness will mean that Welsh institutions continue to perform positively in this survey.”
Aberystwyth University, for the sixth consecutive year, was top in Wales on student satisfaction.
The 2010 results of the National Student Survey (NSS) awarded the University a score of 4.4 (on a scale of 1-5 for student satisfaction), the second highest score for any public residential University in the UK and just behind Oxford University. The survey also places Aberystwyth 5th out of all universities in the UK and top in Wales for the sixth year running for student satisfaction.
Overall satisfaction at Aberystwyth University remains very high at 92% - an increase of 2% on 2009 and 10% higher than both the Welsh and the UK average.
Commenting on the University’s success, Professor Martin Jones, Pro Vice Chancellor at Aberystwyth University said: “This is a brilliant result indeed. I am continuously encouraged by the success of our institution. We are able to demonstrate improvements year on year and am delighted that these are reflected by these surveys and the satisfaction of our students - particularly against a backdrop of funding cuts and economic tensions. The success of the University in recruitment is another feature of the esteem in which we are held by our students. In short, we have all worked hard to develop the Aberystwyth ‘student experience’ brand and I would like to thank students, academic and support staff, and the Guild for creating this unique teaching and learning environment.”
Cardiff University Cardiff Business School also received excellent results with 91%, of Business Management students who graduated from the School this year, satisfied with the quality of their course. This represents a 17% increase on last year’s results and places the scheme 8th in the country for student satisfaction in Business Studies.
Students studying Finance at the school also expressed their satisfaction with the course, with 92% stating they were happy with their course, making Cardiff Business School the top-rated place to study Finance in Wales.
Professor George Boyne, Dean of the Business School, said “At Cardiff Business School we are committed to providing students with an education for life. We have world-class researchers teaching on our undergraduate degree programmes and state-of-the-art learning facilities. We are delighted to see this reflected in the National Student Survey scores.”
The NSS data is available on Unistats.com, which helps prospective students of higher education compare information about different subjects and institutions.
The survey covered higher education students in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and at 12 Scottish institutions.