Transformative learning experiences

Bangor University celebrated a significant improvement in student satisfaction in key areas of teaching and learning in 2021–22. Our improvement was reflected in scores well above the sector average for teaching and learning areas in the latest National Student Survey, with student satisfaction for the teaching on my course now 83%, up 19% on the previous year, and for learning opportunities again up on the previous year and now at 80%. We are immensely proud of these results.

Another achievement is our improved position in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide with Bangor University climbing 48 places to 20th in the UK for teaching quality.

This academic year saw the University drive forward key projects and do even more to enhance the learning environment for students. This involved integrating face to face campus activities with our online learning to offer the highest quality teaching and learning experience.

With the benefit of the unique insights and learning opportunity brought about by the pivot to online during the Covid–19 pandemic, we focused on sustaining and enhancing our digital learning by further developing the digital capability of our students and academic staff and our institutional digital teaching and learning environment.

Our digital learning project was enhanced across the University, supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) Higher Education Investment and Recovery (HEIR) fund created to enable Welsh universities to maintain vital capacity and aid economic recovery in the context of the impact of the pandemic.

To inform this focus on digital, we collected student responses to Jisc’s Digital Experience Insights survey in 2021 and 2022. We received positive feedback, with students praising the institution’s digital capability, the quality of support provided, and the flexibility that online learning awarded them.

Areas for development were also highlighted, and we took on board student demand for online training and guidance, the desire for more engaging and interactive online sessions and better digital communication. A number of interventions were implemented including:

The development of the transitions platform

BE BANGOR READY which includes information and guidance around our processes and online platforms for incoming students to support them with their transition to higher education

The purchasing of Jisc’s Discovery Tool, designed to empower staff and student to reflect on their digital capability and identify areas for development

An audit of our teaching spaces to ensure their suitability for online teaching and to facilitate the welcome return to campus for all our students

Additional guidance for staff and students about using digital technologies to best effect in teaching and learning, ‘netiquette’, and investment in external training courses to support staff CPD

The success of these interventions was monitored at both an individual–intervention level, and by comparing the results of the 2021 and 2022 Digital Experience Insights (DEI) surveys which demonstrate progress:

Overall, how would you rate the quality of online and digital learning of your course?

% of students who agreed with ‘Best Imaginable to Good’: 2021- 69%; 2022- 81% (Wales = 78%, Sector = 74%)

% of students who agreed with ‘Your online learning materials are engaging and motivating’: 2021- 36% (Wales 39%, sector 35%); 2022 - 52% (Wales = 47%, Sector = 43%)

Data: Jisc DEI Survey