The National Student Survey An 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 publicly-funded HEIs in the UK FE Colleges that provide HE in England and Wales only Running since 2005 Over 400,000 participants; 3 rd largest survey in the UK Core of 23 questions Funded by HEFCE. Run by Ipsos-MORI

Teaching1 - 4 Assessment and feedback5 -9 Academic support 10 – 12 Organisation and management13 – 15 Learning resources16 – 18 Personal development19 – 21 Overall satisfaction22 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 Publicly available data Is part of many league tables 50% response rate is required! –At least 23 individual responses

Accessing your results Get your course’s results from your course leader You can also look at

Using your results What does your course score well and not so well on? How does your course compare with 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 course management committee Find out what your course is doing to improve.