Student satisfaction among highest in the UK

Posted 6 August 2009

Harper Adams University College has some of the most satisfied students in the country, new survey data has revealed.

The results of this year’s National Student Survey are being published today (August 6), with Harper Adams getting an overall satisfaction rating of 92 per cent – keeping it among the top rated universities in the UK:

Medway School of Pharmacy – 97%
Brighton and Sussex Medical School - 95%
Open University – 94%
Courtald Institute of Art – 93%
Institute of Education – 93%
St Mary’s, Belfast – 93%
Harper Adams University College - 92% (fifth in the UK)
University of St Andrews – 92 %
University of Buckingham (independent) – 92%
University of Cambridge 91%

With 92 per cent, Harper Adams has not only improved on the 90 per cent rating it gained in 2008, but is well ahead of the average English score of 81 per cent, and many prestigious institutions including Cambridge, at 91 per cent.

Academic Registrar Noel Morrison said: “Harper Adams is dedicated to providing the best possible learning experience for all its students. The University College’s collegiate environment fosters close links between staff and students we provide very high levels of one-to-one academic and learner support.”

The overall satisfaction rating rises to 96 per cent for students on “agriculture and related courses”. And when the survey is broken down, Harper’s highest scores came from the learning resources and personal development questions.

Dr Morrison added: “Harper Adams boasts a fantastic array of resources, from the well-stocked and inspirationally-designed Bamford Library, to a bank of academic staff who are working so closely to their field of expertise that their knowledge is constantly updated. Many academics are involved in trials work at the college’s farm, Crops and Environment Research Centre and Animal Science Research Centre, and the knowledge generated from these underpins all teaching at the University College.

“On the personal development side, students take advantage not only of ease of access to academic and support staff, but of their placement year, which is compulsory for all undergraduates. During their 12 months in industry each student experiences academic and personal growth that makes them confident and highly employable by the time they graduate, which is why Harper Adams is ranked in the top 10 of English universities for graduate employment.”

The National Student Survey forms part of the revised quality assurance framework (QAF) for higher education. The aim of the survey is to gather feedback on the quality of students' courses in order to contribute to public accountability as well as to help inform the choices of future applicants to higher education.

The total number of students who responded to the fifth annual National Student Survey increased this year by over 3,000 to 223,363 students; this gives an overall response rate for the UK of 62 per cent. A total of 155 higher education institutions (HEIs) across the UK and 117 further education colleges (FECs) in England took part.

The results of the survey are used to inform various league tables and guides, including the Sunday Times University Guide, Complete University Guide and Push University Guide, all of which have given Harper Adams high ratings over the last year.

The final year students who contributed to this year’s National Student Survey will graduate from Harper Adams on September 18.