Internal use only Hertfordshire Students’ Union National Student Survey 2016 School of Humanities and Joint Honours As has historically been the case, the School of Humanities has seen mixed successes in the NSS 2016. Improvements have been made in Teaching and Learning (1%), Assessment and Feedback (6%) and Organisation and Management (1%). Decreases have come in Learning Resources (-5%) and Personal Development (-1%), as well as overall satisfaction (-2%) and Students’ Union (-4%). The 6% improvement in Assessment and Feedback is particularly promising, after the School saw decreases in both 2014 and 2015. On the other hand, the 5% decrease in Learning Resources comes after two years of improvement in the area. The lack of real improvement across the board means that the School is below the sector mean in all areas except Teaching and Learning and Students’ Union, sitting at the sector mean in both areas. Teaching
Assessment
Support
Organisation
Resources
Development
Overall
SU
School of Humanities
87% (1%)
72% (6%)
77% (0%)
77% (1%)
85% (-5%)
78% (-1%)
83% (-2%)
69% (-4%)
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
Students studying English Literature with Humanities complained about changes to their reading list on short notice, while Business and Law Joint Honours students complained about discrepancies and a lack of detail in marking. While comments for History with Humanities complained about a lack of module choice, those studying Business and Law Joint Honours praised a varied choice of modules. All courses praised helpful and supportive staff members. Issues with Personal Development were apparent in the open text comments, with comments discussing the lack of support for students in regards to building employability and the poor ‘Graduate Skills’ module.
Internal use only NSS Department ID Data Teaching
Assessment
Support
Organisation
Resources
Development
Overall
SU
Humanities (department)
92% (4%)
75% (5%)
79% (0%)
80% (2%)
82% (-8%)
78% (0%)
85% (0%)
67% (-4%)
Joint Honours
79% (-4%)
67% (9%)
75% (0%)
72% (1%)
90% (-1%)
79% (-4%)
79% (-4%)
71% (-5%)
School of Humanities
87% (1%)
72% (6%)
77% (0%)
77% (1%)
85% (-5%)
78% (-1%)
83% (-2%)
69% (-4%)
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%)
The above department data demonstrates that there is still much work to be done in regards to Joint Honours students, although Joint Honours should take pride in their 90% score in Learning Resources. This is an area that the Humanities department has seen a drop in this year, although a 4% improvement in Teaching and Learning and a 5% improvement in Assessment and Feedback are promising.
At or above the sector mean Within 5% of the sector mean Over 5% below the sector mean