High score for student satisfaction - top in specialist agri-food sector

Posted 12 August 2014

The high quality of teaching, learning resources, and personal and career development opportunities offered at Harper Adams University have led to it achieving the sixth highest score in the country for student satisfaction. 

A satisfaction score of 90 per cent places Harper Adams joint 17th out of 126 English higher education institutions that participated in the National Student Survey 2014, published today. 

The rating makes Harper Adams the UK’s top specialist agri-food and rural studies university for student satisfaction. The university already has the best graduate employment rate in this sector.

“The National Student Survey (NSS) gives us an honest assessment of how the university is performing from the point of view of the people at the heart of everything we do – the students,” said Dr Abigail Hind, Director of Academic Services.  

“Harper Adams has always prided itself on giving students the best possible experience during their time with us, so it is pleasing to have such excellent feedback from those completing their studies this year.

“We will use all of the information provided through the NSS to continue to develop and improve the student experience.”

Highlights for Harper Adams University in this year’s survey include scores of 94 per cent for how well lecturers explain their subjects, 92 per cent for the library and IT resources on campus, 94 per cent for improving students’ career prospects and 96 per cent for the development of life skills through work placements. 

The 90 per cent overall satisfaction result for Harper Adams is ahead of its benchmark of 84 per cent, set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and ahead of the national average of 86 per cent, which is at a 10-year high. 

Professor Madeleine Atkins, HEFCE Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to see record levels of student satisfaction this year.

“In a period of technological advance, internationalisation and funding reforms, the NSS will continue to enable students’ views to be heard and to stimulate innovation and excellence in teaching and learning in our universities and colleges.” 

The NSS covers nearly all final-year undergraduates studying for higher education qualifications at higher education institutions (HEIs) and further education colleges (FECs) in England and Wales, and HEIs in Northern Ireland and Scotland.