Loughborough University’s National Student Survey results for 2006 confirmed our excellent record for quality in teaching and learning and consolidated the high position we achieved in the first survey in 2005

Learning and Teaching Committee

Subject: National Student Survey

Origin: Secretary

NSS 2006

Loughborough University’s National Student Survey results for 2006 confirmed our excellent record for quality in teaching and learning and consolidated the high position we achieved in the first survey in 2005. Our overall scores for 2006 put the University in equal 5^th position of the 129 UK institutions whose results were listed.

There was little movement in the University average scores for the various sections of the survey questions as compared with the 2005 results, though the score for ‘overall satisfaction’ disappointingly dropped from 4.29 to 4.20. The University was in equal 1^st place for ‘learning resources’ and had the second highest average score for ‘academic support’ and for ‘organisation and management’. ‘Assessment and feedback’ was again our lowest scoring set of questions.

In the 21 different subject areas where Loughborough featured, our score for overall satisfaction placed the University in 1^st or equal 1^st position nationally in five subject areas and within the top 10 institutions in a further 9 subject areas.

The attached table shows how the University ranked against other institutions in each of the 21 subject areas, in each set of questions.

A small working group, chaired by the PVC(T), has met to consider the NSS data in more detail and to look at ways of using the data to enhance the student learning experience. The area of assessment and feedback continues to be a particular focus of attention. Issues arising out of the group’s discussions will be explored with departments and we will be asking departments to identify any practices that might have helped them to improve their results in specific areas of the survey (or enabled them to continue to do well).

NSS 2007

The National Student Survey will be repeated in 2007. For Loughborough, the proposed survey start date will be Monday 5 February 2007 (S.1, Week 15, as in previous surveys). There was a possibility of piloting additional questions, but Loughborough has declined this, primarily to avoid extending the length of the survey. We will continue to liaise closely with LSU to encourage a high response rate from students.