The National Student SurveyAn introduction for course reps

Evidencing the student voice

• Representation is far more effective when it is evidence based

• You can speak more authoritatively when speaking for all your students

• Three types of evidence: quantitative, qualitative, and policy

• The National Student Survey data is the most comprehensive source of quantitative evidence you can use

Introduction to the NSS

• Open to all final year undergraduates

• All publically funded HEIs in the UK

• FE Colleges that provide HE in England and Wales only

• Running since 2005

• Over 400,000 participants; 3rd largest survey in the UK

• Core of 23 questions

• Funded by HEFCE. Run by Ipsos-MORI

Teaching 1 - 4

Assessment and feedback 5 -9

Academic support

10 – 12

Organisation and management 13 – 15

Learning resources 16 – 18

Personal development 19 – 21

Overall satisfaction 22

The students’ union* 23

The 23 questions

Institutions can add ‘optional banks’ and custom-designed questions

Key Points

• Run by an independent organisation, Ipsos-MORI

• Three stages:

– Online

– Telephone

– Postal

• Students can opt-out at any point

• Publically available data

• Is part of many league tables

• 50% response rate is required!– At least 23 individual responses

Accessing your results

• Get your department/school results from insert contact here

• You can also look at www.unistats.direct.gov.uk/

Using your results

• What does your course score well and not so well on?

• How does your course compare to similar departments?

• How does your course compare nationally?

• Decide which issues you are going to ask students about.

• Ensure the results are discussed at your SSLC/SSCC.

• Find out what your course is doing to improve.