February 2008
Students Rate Welsh Universities the Best in UK
Students in Wales are happier than their peers in England and the whole of the UK with almost every aspect of their university education, a new study has found.
More than 6,600 home and international students in Wales who took part in the groundbreaking study rated their higher education experience generally more satisfactory than students in England and elsewhere in the UK.
On nearly all of 38 aspects of the learning and living experience, students in Wales were on average more satisfied than their counterparts over the border and across Britain who were asked the same questions last Autumn as part of an ongoing worldwide study.
The findings of the Wales Student Barometer, designed by the International Graduate Insight Group (i-graduate) and led by 10 participating Welsh institutions, were announced at a conference opened in Cardiff today by Welsh Assembly Government education minister Jane Hutt.
Compared with data on student satisfaction gathered by i-graduate in a global study known as the International Student Barometer, Welsh higher education is shown in the Wales Student Barometer to score comparatively well in most areas, including the quality of teaching, course content, and having expert lecturers.
Students rated studying in Wales particularly highly in comparison to England and other parts of the UK on levels of financial support, the cost of living and accommodation, student support, assessment, internet access, and personal safety. Overall, they were more likely to describe their university and study destination as a “good place to be” than their peers elsewhere.
Welsh universities also scored high on most aspects of the services they provide for new students, such as introducing them to their new surroundings, providing accommodation, and introducing them to staff and facilities. Welsh institutions were considered particularly good at helping students open a bank account – something that can often be problematic for international students.
The only areas where Wales and Welsh universities did less well were on transport links, worship facilities, and learning spaces.
John Taylor, who is managing the Wales Student Barometer for i-graduate, said: “What is very clear from these results is that the Welsh sector is delivering a very high level of service for its students – and this is really valued by all students, and by international students in particular.
“The study also shows that students in Wales are most satisfied in many areas that are most important to them.”
Virginia West, director of the Wales International Consortium, a body which promotes Welsh higher education to overseas students and that helped establish the Wales Student Barometer, said: “The i-graduate findings are really good news for Welsh institutions, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and all other HE stakeholders in Wales. They are further independent recognition of the tremendous effort institutions put in to making the student experience work.”
Will Archer, i-graduate’s director, added: “The Barometer process highlights how smaller institutions can find it easier to differentiate. The same applies to smaller countries too. We’re delighted that the Welsh Student Barometer reflects the voice of students in Wales today, and the “hwyl” (spirit) of Welsh higher education.”
The Wales Student Barometer is the latest initiative to emerge from i-graduate’s work around the world. The company’s International Student Barometer process is the first global benchmark of the student experience and has been adopted by universities and colleges from New Zealand to North America.
For more information, please contact:
John Taylor
john.taylor@i-graduate.org
Tel: 01672 851202
Mobile: 07976 280354
Will Archer
will.archer@i-graduate.org
Tel: 01737 772250
Mobile: 07802 253182
Simon Bush
Simon.bush@i-graduate.org
Tel: 01737 772250
The International Graduate Insight Group (i-graduate) is an independent research service specialising in the development and delivery of world-class insight tools and studies for stakeholders in education. i-graduate has worked with over 140 institutions worldwide. i-graduate works with universities in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, North America and South Africa.