Aug 17 2011 10:45AM
The latest National Student Survey (NSS) conducted amongst final-year students at University Campus Suffolk (UCS) shows that the percentage of students pronouncing themselves satisfied with their education in 2011 was 74%, an increase of 3% on UCS’s NSS result in 2010.
The percentage satisfaction for first degrees overall at UCS was 78%, up by 8% compared to last year. This brings the overall figure for one of the UK’s newest university campuses still closer to the current national average of 83% for all higher education and further education institutions.
This improvement reflects the further development of the UCS estate since last year, including the refurbishment of the Library, the establishment of a brand new Student Union facility and a one-stop shop for student queries in Ipswich. It also reflects the action plans put in place last year across Schools and Directorates at the Ipswich Campus and the UCS Network in Suffolk and beyond.
Teaching was a particular strength in the range of areas covered in the NSS with an average of 81% of students indicating that they are satisfied, rising to 100% on some courses.
Further developments are under way for UCS to enhance the student experience for the academic year 2011-12, including the introduction of a Student Charter outlining the reciprocal expectations of staff and students in the learning experience. This is a result of the work of the Student Experience Committee, with representation from staff and students, in overseeing and prompting continuous improvements in this area across UCS.
Further investment has also been made in the estate including the launch in spring 2011 of the £22m James Hehir Building, alongside the stunning £40m Waterfront Building, in Ipswich – and major building works at several Centres across the UCS Network.
Professor Mike Saks, the Provost and Chief Executive of UCS, said "Although we would obviously always like the NSS scores to be higher in a competitive market place, the improvements made since last year are encouraging – and it is pleasing to hear that the majority of students are satisfied with their experience at UCS. We are actively seeking to enhance student satisfaction further in the NSS 2012, as a fast developing, can-do higher education provider."