From satisfaction surveys to institutional culture: mapping students’ learning experience across the institution.

Vigentini, L., McCluckie, B., Browitt, A. and Perriam, G. (2012) From satisfaction surveys to institutional culture: mapping students’ learning experience across the institution. In: Higher Education Institutional Research Conference - Unlocking Institutional Research: Information and Knowledge for Enhanced Institutional Effectiveness, Liverpool, UK, 12-13 July 2012,

Abstract

In the UK, HE institutions use a number of tools to evaluate students’ experience and to gauge the level of satisfaction in different cohorts. Typically the NSS (targeting final year undergraduate students), PTES and PRES (targeting postgraduate taught and research students respectively) are adopted and scrutinised to inform institutional Quality Assurance processes, reputation management and feed into policy and strategy. At our institution the above mentioned surveys are used together with the ISB (International Student Barometer - targeting all international students) and the FYSLES (First year experience survey, developed in house). Each one of these tools provides a snapshot with perspectives on the student experience at our Institution. However, the tools are often considered separately in QA processes because the mechanisms to run and report the results sit at different levels in the organization or are under the remit of different organizational entities. Furthermore, the value or weight attributed to each tool is perceived differently by different stakeholders. Nevertheless, the data generated offers an excellent opportunity to integrate the feedback collected and gives an overview of institutional culture. There is an obvious strategic drive supporting a coherent and unified systematic approach to look at students’ experience beyond individual reports, but this needs to be supported by the design of mechanisms able to make the reporting exercise sustainable in the future. The integration of the data presents some interesting challenges both from the practical and theoretical point of view; this paper will address the issues which our team faced in mapping students’ experiences and will provide an insight into common themes emerging from the different cohorts of students. We will critically evaluate methods of collection, data management and analysis highlighting pros and cons of the survey tools we used and the methods of analysis we used. Participants will also be encouraged to share their experiences of collating experience survey data providing a useful platform to share good practice and practical difficulties.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Browitt, Ms Alison and Perriam, Dr Geraldine and Vigentini, Dr Lorenzo and McCluckie, Mr Barry
• Authors: Vigentini, L., McCluckie, B., Browitt, A., and Perriam, G.
• Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education