Talk student satisfaction with Ben Page, chief executive at Ipsos Mori.

1. The state of student satisfaction
Ben Page, Chief Executive, Ipsos MORI
ben.page@ipsos.com
1

2. ..nearly nine in ten think that a university
education is worthwhile
Overall, how worthwhile do you think a university education is these days?
Don’t know
Not at all worthwhile
Not very worthwhile 2%
8% 4%
40% Very worthwhile
Fairly worthwhile 46% %
Worthwhile 86
Not worthwhile 10
Net difference +76
Base: 2,003 British adults aged 15+, 30 July - 5 August, 2010 Source: Ipsos MORI

3. UK universities are seen by the public to help
address some economic issues
What benefits, if any, do you think UK universities bring to the UK?
Top mentions
Education/knowledge 70%
Develop skills of the workforce 33%
Provide employment/jobs 24%
Advances in science and technology 17%
Help the UK economy to be competitive globally 14%
Advances in medicine 11%
Attracting investment to the UK 11%
Innovation/help to develop new products and services 9%
Help to promote British culture
5%
Help to develop the Arts, (e.g. fine art, music, theatre,
dance, literature, cinema) 4%
Encourages and develops graduates’ softer skills such
as confidence, independence and ways of thinking 2%
Base: 2,003 British adults aged 15+, 30 July - 5 August, 2010 Source: Ipsos MORI

4. Will reforms create
a competitive HE
market?

5. 5
Students' expectations are going to be
higher; our challenge is to show the
value of coming to university and
getting a degree and the quality of the
student experience. We haven't yet had
many questions about fees; it's still all
about courses and university
Kerry Law, director of external relations, De Montfort University
www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2011/jun/27/higher-education-recruitment-starts-now-
2012

6. But of course…
6
 It is already a competitive market!
 Will as many students still want to go
University?
 Some courses and universities will
have a harder job to convince
prospective students

7. 7
What’s the state of student
satisfaction?

8. Students are concerned
8

9. It’s not the course, it’s “what next?”
9
NSS 2010

10. But pretty cheerful about their courses
 83% of undergraduates are satisfied with their
courses (National Student Survey)
 More than 8 in 10 students find their course
intellectually stimulating and motivating (National Student Survey)
 86% of research postgraduate students say that the
overall experience of their programme met or
exceeded their expectations (Postgraduate Research Experience Survey)
 88% of taught postgraduates say that the overall
experience of their programme met or exceeded their
expectations (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey)
 83% of students believe that their course has
improved their career prospects (Ipsos MORI)

11. A trend of rising satisfaction....
% Agree
Teaching on my course
Overall satisfaction
Learning resources
Personal development
Academic support
Organisation and management
Assessment and feedback

12. 12
Who’s happiest?

13. Age matters
 Older students most positive about Teaching and Learning

14. Size matters – small is beautiful
 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

15. Ethnicity – some differences....
 Students from Asian ethnic backgrounds less positive about
their courses than white students...as in other areas of public
services
 Students from black ethnic backgrounds more positive about
Assessment and Feedback

16. Londoners more miserable (as normal)
 Students in the London area less satisfied – why?
 Students in NI and Scotland are more satisfied…..

17. By subject?
 Students in historical and
philosophical subjects or physical
sciences are happiest
 Creative arts and design students
have the lowest satisfaction scores

18. 18
As in so many
areas – key issue
is interactive
communication

19. Weakest link is Feedback
19

20. Assessment and feedback less good
% Agree
The criteria used in marking have
been clear in advance 73%
Assessment arrangements and marking
have been fair 74%
Feedback on my work has been
prompt 62%
I have received detailed comments
on my work 67%
Feedback on my work has helped me 62%
clarify things I did not understand
Base: c.265,000, NSS, fieldwork January – April 2011 Source: Ipsos MORI

21.  1 in 2 students feel that their own feedback is not listened
to and valued
 4 in 10 say it is not clear how their comments on the
course have been acted upon

22. 9% didn’t
enjoy it

23. Focus of the Overstretched Classes
course is on university are far
theory rather than resources too large
practice
 ” Contact hours
and lack of
Difficult to face-to-face
Lack of library contact tutorials
resources staff
Lack of non-
Lack of a sense of exam based
Cost of community assessments
doing a amongst students
course

24. www.student-direct.co.uk/2011/09/the-worst-university-in-the-russell-group/
24

25. Some conclusions...
 A really good example of a sector raising its
game
 Further improvements might be harder
 Chance to recast what we do: means we have
to have the conversation
 Technology is on our side – and offside
 More and better communications will help...

26. ben.page@ipsos.com

27. Assessment and feedback (% agree)
The criteria used in marking have
been clear in advance
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
Base: 264,500 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2011 Source: Ipsos MORI

28. Academic support (% agree)
I have received sufficient advice
and support with my
studies
I have been able to contact staff
when I needed to
Good advice was available when I
needed to make study
choices
Base: 264,500 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2011 Source: Ipsos MORI

29. Organisation and management (% agree)
The timetable works efficiently as
far as my activities are
concerned
Any changes in the course or
teaching have been
communicated effectively
The course is well organised
and is running smoothly
Base: 264,500 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2011 Source: Ipsos MORI

30. Learning resources (% agree)
30
The library resources and services
are good enough for my needs
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
Base: 264,500 NSS respondents, fieldwork January – April 2011 Source: Ipsos MORI