University of Derby increases overall student satisfaction to 86% in National Survey of Students

The University of Derby has achieved 86 percent overall student satisfaction in this year’s National Survey of Students (NSS) – up from 85 percent in 2017.

The NSS is a high-profile annual census of nearly half a million students across the UK, commissioned by the Office for Students. Aimed at mainly final-year undergraduates, it gathers opinions about their time in higher education, asking them to provide honest feedback about what it has been like to study on their course at their institution.

The University also increased its scores in the key areas of teaching on my course (88 percent, up 1 percent on last year); assessment and feedback (79 percent, up 2 percent on last year) and academic support (83 percent, up 2 percent on last year).

Seven subject areas at the University achieved 100% satisfaction (an increase from four in 2017) – these are:

• Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology
• Biology
• Building
• Comparative Literary Studies
• Dance
• History
• Ocean Science

This year 21 of the University’s publishable subject areas (where at least 50% of students responded to the survey) had an overall satisfaction score above 90% (an increase from 19 in 2017).

17 programmes achieved 100% satisfaction (an increase from eight in 2017) – these are:

• BA (Hons) Applied Social Work
• BA (Hons) Business Accounting and Finance
• BA (Hons) Business Studies
• BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
• BA (Hons) English
• BA (Hons) History
• BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management
• BA (Hons) Media Production
• BA (Hons) Sociology
• BSc (Hons) Biology
• BSc (Hons) Construction Management and Property Development
• BSc (Hons) Human Biology
• BSc (Hons) Sound, Light and Live Event Technology
• FdSc Asphalt and Pavement Technology
• FdSc International Spa Management
• FdSc Mineral Extractives Technology (UK)
• MAccFin Accounting and Finance

The NSS results follow the University’s inclusion earlier this month in the top 100 institutions in Europe for teaching excellence in the Times Higher Education rankings, and our Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year win at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (THELMAs) in June.

Derby also achieved an overall ranking of ninth nationally out of 105 higher education institutions (with an overall satisfaction score of 88 percent) in the Advance HE Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2018.

Over the last 10 years, the University has invested more than £200 million in its facilities to ensure that students have access to some of the most modern teaching and learning spaces in the country. Last year, £28 million was invested in improving the campus infrastructure and teaching resources.

To ensure that students play a meaningful part in University decision-making, the Vice-President of the Union of Students co-chairs the Student Experience Learning and Teaching Committee – a major committee with significant influence and one that is supported by the Vice-Chancellor. The University Executive team also meets annually with students, giving them the chance to ask questions or raise any areas of concern.

The University’s Student Experience Framework, designed with input from students and staff, groups together existing opportunities for student learning and personal development offered by the University in one place. It also offers new opportunities such as the International Travel Awards, which this year has seen students visit Iceland, Budapest and New York.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “We are committed to providing the very best experience for all of our students, not just in terms of teaching but the high quality facilities they have access to and our whole University estate.

“Today’s NSS results further reinforce this commitment. It is fantastic to be acknowledged by our students for the work we are doing in meeting their needs. By listening to our students and giving them a real voice that influences our decision-making, we can ensure that we continue to deliver an outstanding learning experience into the future.”

Professor Malcolm Todd, Provost, added: “Our philosophy is not to see our students as the ‘consumers’ of an educational product. Instead, our commitment is to work in true partnership with our students to constantly seek out ways in which we can enhance and improve the student experience. The students at the University of Derby work with us in varied ways to assure that they will receive an outstanding quality experience which takes them onto whatever they want to do in the future, whether that’s further study, research or graduate-level employability.”

Find out more about the National Survey of Students here www.thestudentsurvey.com