Newcastle University

The university has again improved in the results of this year’s National Student Survey with students showing their appreciation for lecturers’ skill and for the quality of their courses.

Ninety one per cent of Newcastle University respondents felt that staff were good at explaining things, compared to the national average of 87 per cent. In addition, 87 per cent felt that staff were enthusiastic about what they were teaching and made the subject intellectually stimulating - against national averages of 83 and 82 per cent respectively.

Newcastle University has bucked the general trend in relation to students’ overall satisfaction, with an increased score of 87 per cent (86 per cent last year) while the national average decreased by 1 per cent to 81 per cent.

Professor Ella Ritchie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) said: “This is a significant step forward and a positive endorsement of the hard work that has gone into improving the students’ learning experience.

“There is still work to be done and we are constantly assessing how we can improve things for our students.”

Newcastle University’s response rate also improved this year, going up 4 percentage points to 65 per cent, exceeding the sector average (62 per cent) for the first time.

The results are especially rewarding in a time of recession when graduates could be expected to be disheartened by the employment market.  These were the first students to graduate having paid top-up fees and there were concerns that this might have a negative impact on their feedback.  The fears have proved groundless and Newcastle University has continued to improve its performance.

Responding to the results of the National Student Survey 2009, a Russell Group spokesman, said: “In a tough graduate jobs market students are bound to take a hard look at their degree courses but once again the response from students at Russell Group universities has been overwhelmingly positive, with 85% of students agreeing or strongly agreeing that they were satisfied with the quality of their course.”

Professor Paul Ramsden, CEO, Higher Education Academy, said: “A high quality student experience is the hallmark of excellent higher education. With the current pressures on the sector, it is striking that the vast majority of students are positive about the teaching they receive and about their experiences generally. It's a tribute to the commitment of everyone who works in higher education, but it makes it even more important that we keep our eyes on the ball and continue to deliver really good teaching for all students.”

Weblinks to further information:

HEFCE overview of NSS results

Newcastle University results (internal website)

(first published 7th August)