Student satisfaction remains high

Penglais Campus

Student satisfaction at Aberystwyth University remains high, according to the latest National Student Survey. 

The NSS is an annual survey of final year undergraduate students, which aims to inform the choices of prospective higher education students about where and what to study.  83% of students responded that they are satisfied with their overall Aberystwyth student experience. 

Students were asked questions grouped into seven areas: ‘the teaching on my course’; ‘assessment and feedback’; ‘academic support’; ‘organisation and management’; ‘learning resources’; ‘personal development’ and ‘overall satisfaction’. 

Departments with particularly high rankings for overall satisfaction include International Politics and History and Welsh History with 91% and 94% respectively.  Mathematics and the Department of Welsh also ranked highly. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Law and Criminology, the School of Management and Business and the Department of Geography and Earth Science are among a number of departments which saw significant improvements this year. 

The findings will now be considered in detail by the University, which will use the results to inform its future planning and ensure that student satisfaction at Aberystwyth continues to be at a high standard. Steps are already being taken to develop teaching spaces, invest in the Students’ Union, and improve the University’s estate. 

The University has already stated its intention to invest upwards of £100m over the next 3 years  in order to enhance and extend the already excellent residential and learning facilities. The University is confident that these exciting plans will add significantly to the overall student experience. 

The schedule of investment is one of the most significant in the University’s history.  The plans include: 

•           A major new residential project worth - £45m.

•           A science innovation campus at Gogerddan - £35m.

•           A redevelopment of the iconic and prestigious Old College - £20m

•           The redevelopment of the Llanbadarn Centre for the Institute of Management, Law and Information Science - £3.5m.

•           Enhanced IT and learning room facilities 

Rebecca Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student and Staff Services said:
“I’m pleased that student satisfaction remains high at the University. We are working with the Students' Union to listen carefully to students’ needs and investing appropriately in our campus, its facilities and additional learning resources. 

“To date 13 teaching rooms in the Hugh Owen building have been refurbished and redecorated and a complete overhaul of PCs in student rooms is underway. There is also the extension of campus wide Wi-Fi and a new student e-mail service. 

“I am confident that this investment in the student experience will be tangible and visible to our new cohort of students joining in September. Aberystwyth is a fantastic place to study and live and I look forward to welcoming new and returning students to the University in the new academic year.”  

John Glasby, Chief Executive of the Students’ Union added:
"The Union is very pleased to see how seriously the University is taking measures to improve the student experience, at all levels. The extra financial commitment made by the University will help tremendously as will exciting plans for the refurbishment of the SU building. Further initiatives of our own include exciting new food and retail offers helping the Union building become the hub of campus for students. We are investing heavily in extra resources for student support and representation and we’ll use the course representative system to ensure individual courses are looked at through subject committees."

au31413

Share