1. Improving the student experience -one year on James Warner

2. “Nobody knows my name” Imperial Medical Student 2011

3. The problem… Imperial medical faculty underperforms on student experience measures in the National Student Survey NSS 2011 negative comments – Assessment and feedback- 83% – Academic support- 50% – Organisation and management- 80% – Pastoral care- 72%

4. The method Series of focus groups with students and faculty – Explore themes identified in NSS in depth – Identify further themes Random selection of students across all years Grouped by years Anonymity guaranteed

5. Method Two facilitators 90 minutes Solutions invited Responses categorised and coded

6. Results 5 student groups – 25 students 2 faculty groups – 9 teachers/course leads

7. Results Pre-Course information and induction unhelpful Students do not feel a sense of allegiance with the Alma Mater Insufficient access and poor understanding of intranet Significant concern with communication of last minute changes to teaching

8. Results poor understanding of course integration and learning objectives by teachers – esoteric subject matter and repetition Students have to access multiple sources of information (often obscure) to ensure they meet teaching commitments) Lack of clarity of role and accessibility of personal tutors. Lack of awareness of pastoral resources

9. Results Students believe accessing pastoral/welfare or criticizing the course will count against them course and exam feedback do not inform their progress/ranking within the year

10. Results SOLE does not make a difference- students have no confidence poor teaching is addressed when identified in SOLE Students have insufficient information about construct and content of exams

11. One year on…

12. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improving teaching management – Accountability structure – Recognition and career progression

13. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improving teaching management – Accountability structure – Recognition and career progression ACTION Money to follow delivery in Trusts and divisions Introduction of Quality Metrics (eg Peer review)

14. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improving course cohesion and integration

15. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improving course cohesion and integration ACTION Appointment of Education Fellow for curriculum mapping – innovative mechanisms to link and present structure and content – Working with course leaders, theme leaders and heads of years – map will signpost learning at each stage of the programme Early years review

16. Themes RECOMMENDATION Develop sense of Allegiance to institution

17. Themes RECOMMENDATION Develop sense of Allegiance to institution ACTION Social events – e.g. Ceremony to mark induction to clinical course Improved communication with student body – e.g. Town Hall events

18. Themes RECOMMENDATION Personalise student experience

19. Themes RECOMMENDATION Personalise student experience ACTION “customer first” approach Improved communication with student body – More visible FEO

20. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improve feedback bi-directionally

21. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improve feedback bi-directionally ACTION SOLE shake-up Feedback project – Centre-student feedback survey

22. Themes RECOMMENDATION Re-invigorate personal tutor system

23. Themes RECOMMENDATION Re-invigorate personal tutor system ACTION Piloting clinical tutor system year 3 – Evaluation planned

24. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improve pre-admission materials

25. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improve pre-course materials ACTION Substantial revision of pre-course communication

26. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improve information about exams and increase assessments

27. Themes RECOMMENDATION Improve information about exams and increase assessments ACTION Assessment strategy Personalised exam feedback PACES revision course

28. summary Every recommendation considered Real commitment by College to change Substantial cultural shift- will take time!