Which? has partnered with the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) to conduct “The Student Academic Experience Survey”, the findings from which were released last month. In addition to a Which? report that goes into some depth regarding a range of issues (including contact time, types of contact, feedback, attendance, private study, etc.), there is also a HEPIRead more
Formative assessment has been shown to considerably aid learning by providing students with feedback on how their learning is progressing before they engage with ‘high-stakes’ summative assessment. However, a common concern amongst staff (and students) is that it will be an additional burden in an already busy teaching schedule. A recent paper (López-Pastor, Pintor, MurosRead more
787,205 higher education qualifications were awarded by UK higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2011/12. Approximately half of these qualifications were first degrees, one third were postgraduate qualifications and one sixth were other undergraduate qualifications (such as foundation degrees, credits and diplomas of higher education). 39% of all qualifications were awarded in science subjects, althoughRead more
Further to the previous National Student Survey Discipline Reports posting (i.e. which pointed towards the STEM, Health Sciences, and Arts and Humanities discipline specific reports that the HEA has been publishing during the course of this year based upon NSS 2011 data), we now have a complete set with the publication of the Social Sciences reports: NSS Report for Business and Management NSS Report for EconomicsRead more
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) published its Institutional Review report for Loughborough University yesterday. In a press release entitled Higher education watchdog reviews Loughborough University, the QAA’s Chief Executive, Anthony McClaran, is quoted as saying: “There were many good areas identified at Loughborough University as the institution met UK expectations in academic standards, the quality of student learningRead more
Most of us are familiar with the concept of ‘Peak Oil’, where the rate of oil production peaks and thereafter enters terminal decline, but what about the case for ‘Peak Higher Education’? The outcomes of a recent report, Global Changes in Tuition Fee Policies and Student Assistance by Canadian-based consultants Higher Education Strategy Associates,Read more
Graham Gibbs has followed up his Dimensions of quality (York: HEA, 2010) with a new report entitled Implications of ‘Dimensions of quality’ in a market environment (York: HEA, 2012) which has just become available. In doing so, he presents a considered and constructively critical assessment of current pressures, policies and practices at Higher Education institutions acrossRead more
The Higher Education Academy has just published a report entitled Making it count: Reflecting on the National Student Survey in the process of enhancement. As the HEA says, this report “provides suggestions and reflections on the role that the NSS can play in the enhancement of learning and teaching”, and argues that it is often overlooked as an enhancementRead more
The 1994 Group recently published a report entitled A multi-dimensional student experience. It summarises discussions which took place earlier this year within the 1994 Group’s Policy Forum 2012, and outlines issues and ideas that it says “need to be explored by institutions and policy makers alike to ensure truly immersive student experiences that begin well before applications are made and extendRead more
The Higher Education Academy has been publishing discipline specific reports during the course of this year based upon National Student Survey data. In addition to reports published in the late spring on STEM and Health Sciences subjects such as Engineering and Mathematics, a new set of reports for Arts and Humanities subjects such as English andRead more