National Student Survey

MMU Overview

Neil Barrett

Strategic Planning & Management Information

01Section

NSS. Why? Why?!

NSS designed to support the QAA’s audits & bring focus to universities

QUALITY!Teaching

Assessment

Academic support

Organisation

Learning resources

Personal developmen

t

Overall satisfaction

Our challenge: NSS is notnot designed to diagnose institutional issues. E.g.• Validity (what do the questions actually mean?)

– The timetable works efficiently as far as my activities are concerned

– Feedback on my work has been prompt

• Reliability, particularly of small samples…

Variation in small samplesQuartiles of overall satisfaction for all courses in UK returning individual course results in KIS, by size of NSS population

Lots of variability in small classes: implications for KIS

But! The numbers are used regardless and our numbers need to be higher

• League tables: in Sunday Times, nearly 30% of an institution’s score is made up from NSS (teaching quality & overall satisfaction)

• Student choice. E.g. Unistats & Which?

Unistats

Which?

02Section

The results

Institutional position2011

MMU result

Similar institution results (Leeds Met, Birm. City, UCLan, LJM, De Mont, Northumbria, Nott. Trent, Sheff. Hall)

2012

50

100

A&D

50

100

HPSC

50

100

Hollings

50

100

Humanities

50

100

Business

50

100

S&E

50

100

Cheshire

50

100

Education Change in overall satisfaction (2011 to 2012)

JACS area HEI count

The teaching

on my

course

Assessment

and feedback

Academic

support

Organisation

and

management

Learning

resources

Personal

development

Ov erall

Satisfaction

Students'

Union

Management studies 80 93 80 88 84 87 90 93 79

Human Resource Management 14 82 82 88 87 93 90 93 89

Finance 50 88 73 89 87 87 81 91 73

Initial Teacher Training 56 89 72 88 63 90 91 88 65

Architecture 46 89 78 85 80 88 89 88 76

Accounting 83 87 74 88 87 87 81 90 73

Economics 66 82 64 81 80 86 84 86 60

Drama 85 89 74 82 82 69 94 87 84

Others in Education 17 88 68 77 76 87 89 86 61

English studies 109 93 68 84 82 77 77 92 49

Others in Social studies 20 80 68 79 76 71 91 80 59

Others in Subjects all ied to Medicine 72 80 83 79 57 86 87 79 66

Physical Geography and Environmental Science 59 90 77 88 85 82 75 90 52

Media studies 88 85 74 72 66 82 78 72 70

Dance 16 88 82 83 82 70 82 90 80

Materials and Minerals Technology 13 80 72 71 83 70 75 78 51

Biology 63 84 62 78 85 85 79 84 68

Mathematics and Statistics 63 78 69 80 77 85 65 84 66

Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology 45 85 67 79 66 90 89 82 65

Tourism, Transport and Travel 56 77 73 76 72 72 76 82 52

History 94 92 72 80 83 69 77 87 59

Psychology 111 83 66 79 75 76 72 83 64

Forensic and Archaeological Science 29 80 59 80 62 87 61 75 60

Nursing 71 85 80 78 80 79 87 90 66

Chemistry 43 84 72 76 78 93 80 88 69

Design studies 86 80 72 73 69 88 73 77 57

Politics 70 86 69 77 80 61 66 90 58

Computer Science 114 71 67 77 70 81 69 74 67

Sports Science 76 81 69 79 72 81 80 82 70

Philosophy 42 87 70 74 82 70 72 81 69

Fine Art 59 77 74 68 62 89 71 73 44

Medical Technology 24 78 59 72 58 86 73 68 66

Academic studies in Education 71 75 67 73 58 75 76 78 69

All Subjects 226 81 69 76 73 81 78 81 62

Social Work 90 79 63 64 66 71 82 73 41

Aural and Oral Sciences 15 86 48 68 42 77 75 72 46

Sociology 84 79 62 74 74 75 70 79 63

Marketing 54 71 65 61 71 80 78 73 55

Music 71 74 54 61 52 70 65 62 36

Law 99 79 57 67 63 80 79 81 68

Electronic and Electrical Engineering 62 72 56 68 55 84 66 73 68

Others in Technology 24 67 60 63 32 81 60 43 67

Nutrition 19 73 57 68 50 70 71 67 41

Business studies 101 73 66 70 76 83 78 76 65

Management studiesHRMFinance

Others in TechnologyNutritionBusiness Studies

All MMU subjects compared with the sector

Green = top half of all institutionsPink = bottom half

16. The library resources and serv ices are good enough for my needs.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

12. Good adv ice w as av ailable w hen I needed to make study choices.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

8. I hav e receiv ed detailed comments on my w ork.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

17. I hav e been able to access general IT resources w hen I needed to.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

7. Feedback on my w ork has been prompt.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

9. Feedback on my w ork has helped me clarify things I did not understand.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

6. Assessment arrangements and marking hav e been fair.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

18. I hav e been able to access specialised equipment, facilities or rooms w hen I needed to.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

I am satisfied w ith the Students' Union (Association or Guild) at my institution2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Ov erall Satisfaction2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

10. I hav e receiv ed sufficient adv ice and support w ith my studies.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

5. The criteria used in marking hav e been clear in adv ance.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

20. My communication skills hav e improv ed.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

19. The course has helped me to present my self w ith confidence.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

13. The timetable w orks efficiently as far as my activ ities are concerned.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

11. I hav e been able to contact staff w hen I needed to.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

1. Staff are good at ex plaining things.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

14. Any changes in the course or teaching hav e been communicated effectiv ely .2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

21. As a result of the course, I feel confident in tackling unfamiliar problems.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

15. The course is w ell organised and is running smoothly .2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3

4. The course is intellectually stimulating.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

2. Staff hav e made the subject interesting.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

3. Staff are enthusiastic about w hat they are teaching.2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 3 3 3 3 3

The course is well organised and running smoothlyThe course is intellectually stimulatingStaff have made the subject interestingStaff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching

The library resources and services are good enough for my needsGood advice was available when I need to make study choicesI have received detailed comments on my work

Suggestions!

• Focus on the positives – i.e. the motivational side of a good experience (not avoiding making them unhappy)

• Timing – get them in a good mood

• Hot issues – quickly recover from any major issues