Internal use only Hertfordshire Students’ Union National Student Survey 2016 School of Health and Social Work Mixed success in the NSS 2016 has seen no real change for the School of Health and Social Work when compared to previous years. Despite improvements in Academic Support (1%) and Organisation and Management (4%), there were decreases in all other areas and a decline in overall satisfaction. For the second consecutive year, there was a decline in Assessment and Feedback, which is particularly worrying considering its already low agree rate. Despite a number of decreases, the School remains at or above the sector mean in three sections: Teaching and Learning, Learning Resources and Personal Development. The School is also above the sector in Students’ Union satisfaction, which saw a 1% increase. Teaching
Assessment
Support
Organisation
Resources
Development
Overall
SU
School of Health and Social Work
87% (-2%)
64% (-1%)
81% (+1%)
64% (+5%)
90% (-1%)
88% (-1%)
82% (-3%)
72% (+1%)
UH
85% (-1%)
70% (1%)
80% (-1%)
73% (1%)
88% (-2%)
83% (-2%)
82% (-2%)
74% (0%)
Sector (all HEIs)
87% (0%)
73% (0%)
82% (0%)
79% (0%)
87% (0%)
83% (0%)
86% (0%)
69% (-1%)
Positive and Negative Themes (Open Comments)
At or above the sector mean Within 5% of the sector mean Over 5% below the sector mean
The comments discuss much disorganisation and miscommunication across all courses, with last-minute changes and inconsistent messages provided by staff. Comments complain about staff shortages, where lecturers have left and not been replaced, as well as placements: there is a lack of support for students on placement, which is particularly relevant with the distance some students have to travel for their placements.
Positive comments praise enthusiastic and helpful lecturers, as well as the resources offered by the University (primarily the Learning Resources Centre). Students reported improvements to the timetable following feedback, which is promising.
Internal use only NSS Department ID Data Teaching
Assessment
Support
Organisation
Resources
Development
Overall
Foundation Paramedic
80% (-8%)
43% (+13%)
78% (+15%)
47% (+26%)
80% (-12%)
82% (+3%)
60% (-7%)
HHPHY
96% (-3%)
78% (-11%)
91% (-6%)
83% (+1%)
98% (0%)
86% (-9%)
90% (-5%)
79% (+31% ) 62% (-22%)
Midwifery
92% (-6%)
72% (-3%)
88% (-4%)
66% (+19%)
94% (+3%)
82% (-9%)
78% (-15%)
77% (+11%)
Nursing
86% (+1%)
65% (+2%)
83% (+6%)
58% (-3%)
89% (-1%)
90% (0%)
84% (-2%)
Paramedic
84% (+5%)
32% (-11%)
69% (-4%)
60% (+25%)
91% (+3%)
91% (+6%)
62% (-8%)
Radiography
90% (-6%)
62% (-12%)
78% (-12%)
82% (0%)
89% (-4%)
86% (-5%)
87% (-2%)
73% (+1%) 79% (+26% ) 69% (-6%)
Radiotherapy
97% (0%)
90% (+17%)
90% (+1%)
81% (+19%)
97% (+2%)
99% (+10%)
100% (+5%)
78% (-2%)
Social Work
77% (-1%)
58% (-1%)
57% (-5%)
38% (-6%)
93% (+7%)
83% (-1%)
57% (-15%)
55% (-24%)
School of Health and Social Work
87% (-2%)
64% (-1%)
81% (+1%)
64% (+5%)
90% (-1%)
88% (-1%)
82% (-3%)
72% (+1%)
UH
85% (-1%)
70% (1%)
80% (-1%)
73% (1%)
88% (-2%)
83% (-2%)
82% (-2%)
74% (0%)
Sector (all HEIs)
87% (0%)
73% (0%)
82% (0%)
79% (0%)
87% (0%)
83% (0%)
86% (0%)
69% (-1%)
With a number of areas across a number of courses that are below the sector mean, there is much work to be done in the School of Health and Social Work. In line with historical issues at the University, Assessment and Feedback and Organisation and Management are problem areas for the School. On the other hand, Learning Resources and Personal Development are more positive.
At or above the sector mean Within 5% of the sector mean Over 5% below the sector mean
The Foundation Paramedic course proves to be particularly problematic for the School, with all areas except the Students’ Union below the sector mean and particularly low scores in Assessment and Feedback (43%), Organisation and Management (47%) and overall satisfaction (60%). Students on this course report feeling undervalued when compared to students studying on other courses. Social Work also report number of low scores, with students studying on that course reporting a large amount of disorganisation, including last-minute changes to lectures, poor communication of timetabling to students, and a lack of communication between the School and placement providers.
SU