Engagement and feedback
Student feedback
Student feedback provides valuable input to the review and development of both course content and programme organisation, and the University encourages feedback from students in a number of ways.
Different arrangements exist in different subjects, but Departments and Faculties normally use evaluation forms for their courses, most University committees have student representatives as members, Colleges have student officers, and focus groups on current issues are often held.
Each institution should have a committee consisting of both staff and students (including representatives of both Masters and PhD students) at which issues concerning teaching and learning (amongst others) can be raised. A constitution and remit for the committee should be drawn up. It should meet formally at least once a term and report to the degree committee or Faculty Board. Minutes of the meeting should be kept. The line of responsibility should be clear for responding to matters raised at the committee, including feedback to students on any actions taken.
It is recommended that each institution arranges for the election of a student representative, who can raise academic, welfare, resource, and any other matters of general or particular concern on behalf of class members individually or severally, either informally with the Director of Graduate Studies or through the staff/student committee.
University surveys
As well as local engagement, there are two University-wide student surveys that students are asked to participate in:
- National Student Survey (NSS), an annual survey for final year undergraduate students. Find out more about NSS on the Education Quality and Policy Office website.
- Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), for postgraduate research students which is run every two years. Find out more about PRES.
How results are used
Results are aggregated where necessary and disseminated across the institution for consideration by Faculty Boards, Degree Committees, and College and University Committees with teaching and learning responsibilities.