Understanding the postgraduate experience Chris Park Director, Lancaster University Graduate School Senior Associate, Higher Education Academy (HEA)

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Outline 1.Context 2.Overall satisfaction 3.Dimensions of the student experience 4.Summary & implications

1. Context Changing nature of HE Key themes Evidence Survey coverage

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Changing nature of HE  Changes in management of HEIs How  Performance management  Accountability  League tables What  Quality and standards  The student experience  Brand, reputation  New focus Listening to the student voice Student experience Enhancement Evidence-based decision-making

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Key themes  Postgraduate  Transition from UG to PG  Difference between PGT [taught] and PGR [research]  Definitions Student [learning] experience  Opportunities for successful learning  The broader experience [weakest link] Enhancement  QAA – “the process of taking systematic and deliberate steps at institutional level to improve the quality of learning opportunities”

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Evidence  Undergraduates National Student Survey [NSS]  Taught postgraduates [PGT] HEA PGT Survey  Research postgraduates [PGR] HEA Postgraduate Research Experience Survey [PRES]

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Survey coverage NSSPGTPRES Year CoverageEng, Wales, NIEng, Wales, NI, Scot HEIs Respondents171,3196,76310,544 Target group3yd year UGAll PGTAll PGR

2. Overall satisfaction Satisfaction Factors that affect satisfaction

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Satisfaction  Very high (4/5), remarkably stable NSS [UG] – 81%  “Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course” PGT Survey – 81%  “The course met or exceeded my expectations” PRES [PGR] – 81%  “The programme as a whole met or exceeded my expectations”

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Factors that affect satisfaction NSSPGTPRES 1.Teaching & learning [0.476] 2.Personal development [0.248] 3.Organisation & management [0.214] 4.Academic support [0.164] 5.Assessment & feedback [0.112] 1.Good academic staff & standard of teaching and learning [34%] 2.Availability and approachability of academic staff, and access to relevant support [31%] 1.Supervision [0.353] 2.Intellectual climate [0.246] 3.Goals & standards [0.067] 4.Thesis examination [0.052] 5.Infrastructure [0.042] 6.Skills development 7.[0.037] multiple regression coefficient responses to question options multiple regression coefficient

3. Dimensions of the student experience Teaching & learning Assessment & feedback Academic support PGR supervision Organisation & management PGR research environment Access to learning resources Personal development Skills development

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Teaching & learning NSSPGTPRES Course is stimulating/motivating82%80% T&L methods are effective73% Quality of T&L is consistently high58% Contact time is adequate58%  Overall: generally very positive for PGT  Need for improvement PGT contact time PGT consistency of T&L

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Assessment & feedback NSSPGTPRES Clear marking criteria67%69% Fair assessment arrangements73%81% Prompt feedback53%46% Clear/detailed feedback60%63% Useful feedback54%63%  Overall: positive on assessment, sound on feedback  Need for improvement Timing of feedback for PGT

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference  Overall: generally very positive PGR examination Completed in reasonable timescale76% Support & guidance – thesis revisions65% Support & guidance – viva preparation61%

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Academic support NSSPGTPRES Effective induction52% Know where to get advice83% Able to contact staff75%79% Good advice on study skills62% Good advice on study choices63%53% Academic advice on career step33%  Overall: generally very positive  Need for improvement PGT academic advice about careers PGT study choice advice PGT effective induction

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference PGR supervision  Overall: generally very positive Highest scale score in PRES Skills and subject knowledge82% Make a real effort to understand difficulties73% Available when needed72% Helpful feedback on progress71% Good guidance in topic selection68% Good guidance in literature search62%

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Organisation & management NSSPGTPRES Timetable appropriate76% Workload manageable68% Flexible choice of modules52%  Overall: generally positive  Need for improvement PGT flexibility of module choice

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference PGR research environment  Overall: must do better! Lowest scale score in PRES  Need for improvement All areas Department – culture, recognition, engagement Good seminar programme for research students57% Opportunities for social contact with other research students 53% Opportunities to become involved in research culture52% Stimulating research ambience49% Feel integrated into department community 49%

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Access to learning resources NSSPGTPRES Library facilities & access76%70%66% IT resources & facilities83%74%66% Specialist facilities & equipment70%51%68% Suitable working space64% Technical support59%  Overall: generally very positive for PGT & PGR  Need for improvement PGT Access to specialist resources

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Personal development NSSPGTPRES Personal confidence75%66% Independent learning75%68%80% University careers support31%  Overall: generally very positive  Need for improvement University careers support for PGT

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference  Overall: must do better!  Need for improvement Serious need for improvement in all 3 areas Student engagement vs services on offer PGR - I am encouraged to reflect on my professional development needs 47% PGR - I am encouraged to think about the range of career opportunities that are available to me 38% PGR - I am encouraged to reflect on my career development needs 38%

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Skills development NSSPGTPRES Skills – subject-specific84% Skills – generic/transferable74%58% Skills – research/analytical67%61% Skills - communication78%64%  Overall: generally sound/positive  Need for improvement PGR generic skills development

4. Summary and implications Priority areas – PGT Priority areas – PGR Implications Virtuous circle of enhancement Sources

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Priority areas - PGT  Teaching and learning PGT contact time [58%] PGT consistency of quality of T&L [58%]  Advice and guidance academic advice about study choices [53%] effective induction [52%] academic advice about careers [33%] good financial advice [30%] 

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference  Feedback prompt feedback [46%]  Organisation and management  flexibility of module choice [52%]  Learning resources access to specialist resources [51%]  Support university careers support [31%] effective student support services [36%] 

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Priority areas - PGR  Research environment Good seminar programme [57%] Opportunities for social contact [53%] Opportunities to become involved in research culture [52%] Stimulating research ambience [49%] Feel integrated into department community [49%]  Financial support appropriate financial support for research activities [45%] 

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference  Personal development: encouragement to - reflect on professional development needs [47%] think about range of career opportunities [38%] reflect on career development needs [38%]  Skills development generic skills development [58%] adequate support and guidance for teaching [40%]   Feedback from students institution responds to feedback [48%] 

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Implications  HEI strategic planning Expectation management  Raising awareness of what already exists  Better induction, briefing, communication Enhancement  Student satisfaction, progression, completion  Brand, reputation, league tables  Competitive advantage  UK HE sector Sharing effective practice  HE Academy, QAA Recruitment, retention, satisfaction International competitiveness

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Virtuous circle of enhancement Survey Benchmark Longitudinal change Change policy, practice, infrastructure Student experience compare respond enhance monitor

6th Annual Postgraduate Conference Sources Paula Burridge (2006) The National Student Survey 2005: Findings. Report to HEFCE  Chris Park (2008) The taught postgraduate student experience: overview of a Higher Education Academy survey. HEA report.  urwork/research/surveys/PGTSurvey.pdf Chris Park, Andria Hanbury, Malgorzata Kulej & Lee Harvey (2007) Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2007: Final report. HEA report.  s/pres