what students want – needs and expectations professor shirley pearce vice-chancellor thursday 12...
TRANSCRIPT
What Students Want – Needs and Expectations
Professor Shirley Pearce Vice-ChancellorThursday 12th May 2011
The Context:
Unparalleled change and uncertainty for universities AND students
Reductions in HEFCE T income…..exactly how much will this be?
Increases in tuition fees………what will this do to demand and expectations?
Do not yet understand what will drive student’s decisions and their willingness to pay.
New market place - modes of delivery, diversity, private providers.
And at the same time we must deliver excellent research and enterprise
We must manage the expectations of all our stakeholders
What do our students say they value?
A high quality learning and teaching environment
Curriculum profile – attractive and ‘relevant’ programmes
Employability – explicit links between their courses and employability…….placements
Rewarding Employability Skills….employability award
Careers Guidance – well co-ordinated activities and information on opportunities
Professional support for student enterprise initiatives
What do our students say they value?
Excellent physical resources for learning (library, teaching rooms, access to IT etc) and
easy access
Staff available and regular contact
Feedback and discussion
Excellent recreational resources
A friendly campus environment
How to develop a great student experience?
All institutions are different and provide different kinds of student experience
At Loughborough we believe we must:
Maintain the mutual respect between students and staff
Recognise the value of the Students’ Union to the student experience (eg ‘Our Lufbra’)
Continue the excellent partnership between the University and Students’ Union
Enable academic departments to listen to student views
Deliver the responsive support services which students really value
How to develop a great student experience?
Enrich student learning by providing opportunities linked to academics research/enterprise
connections
Look for even more ways to improve employability of students
Quality Assurance procedures
Good induction and transition programmes for students
Keep students in touch with us when they leave to build on the fondness for their institution
and friendships they have made
Implications of rising student expectations:
Information and engagement will become key
Better information required on what differentiates your institution
Promotional statements need to be supported by evidence
KIS good start
Student Charter – focus on mutual expectations and partnership in learning
Address the ‘contact’ and ‘feedback’ questions
Keep the student experience at the centre of our minds
At Loughborough we are committed to continual improvement. No room for complacency
A Great Student Experience
“One university seems to have the edge when it comes to an excellent
all-round experience. Top of the poll – for the fifth year in a row – is
Loughborough University...”Times Higher Education
17th February 2011
Students are at the core of a successful university