the national student survey (nss) richard puttock – senior analyst julian martin – policy...
TRANSCRIPT
The National Student Survey (NSS)
Richard Puttock – Senior Analyst
Julian Martin – Policy Officer
How did TQI come about ?
• Up until 2001, QAA assessed teaching quality at each department (statutory duty)
• In 2001 it was agreed to move to a new system of QAA institutional audit and TQI
• New quality arrangements based on:– Institutions’ autonomy and responsibilities– Lightness of touch– Informing stakeholders
What’s included on the TQI website?
• Quantitative data on :
– Qualifications on entry
– Continuation
– Achievement
– Destinations
What’s included on the TQI website?
• Qualitative data:
– External examiner report summaries
– Internal review report summaries
– Student feedback
How did NSS come about ?
• Desire to include student voice• Investigation to see whether HEIs’ own
student feedback would be suitable for publication
• Concluded that a new survey needed• Extensive NSS pilot carried out
The Questionnaire
• 21 closed questions in 6 areas– Teaching quality– Assessment and feedback– Academic support– Organisation and management– Learning resources– Personal development
• One summative question • 2 open ended questions
Survey process
• Target list generated from HESA records• Survey agency collected contact details• Survey agency attempted to contact students
– E-mail/website– Post– Phone
• Opt-out available
Survey progress
• Started contacting students in January• Main survey phase nearly complete• Current overall response rate: 56%
Outcomes
• Results will be – published on the TQI site– Fed back to institutions/SUs
• The Survey will be reviewed and assessed• Analysis of the overall results will be carried
out and disseminated to the academic community
Effects of using HESA data
• Advantages– Consistent coverage one algorithm all HEIs– Less burden on HEIs
• Disadvantages– Students may not always be in final year– Relies on good data from HEIs
Crucial HESA fields (1)
• Course length (SPLENGTH/UNITLGTH)
• Year of Programme (YEARPRG)
• Start date (COMDATE)
Crucial HESA Fields (2)
• FTE (STULOAD)
• Source of funding (FUNDCODE/MSFUND)
• Special students (SPCSTU)
• Qualification aim (QUALAIM)
• Subject of qualification aim (also TQI)
Changes for 2006
• Target lists generated by HESA during collection
• Type D exclusions not allowed
• Explicit exclusion of one year PT courses
• Simplification of expected end algorithm
• Probable exclusion of students included in 2005
survey
Presentation of data (1)
• Based on subject groups (41 default)
• Basket metaphor
• Initially 6 scales plus overall satisfaction
• Question level detail available
Presentation of data (2)
• Require 30 responses
• Require 50% of students to respond
• If data not available offer at next level up
Timetable for remainder of 2005 Survey
• Early-April preview of student allocation to cells
• Mid-April survey work completed
• Early July results preview via IPSOS
• Late August preview via TQI
• Early September launch on TQI
• September Detailed feedback to HEIs
Any Questions ?
www.tqi.ac.uk
www.thestudentsurvey.com