National Student Survey (NSS)
The National Student Survey (NSS) is an annual survey of undergraduates across the UK. It is commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and is conducted by an independent body, Ipsos-Mori. The Survey consists of 22 questions with space at the end for free text comments. All responses are anonymised.
The National Student Survey will open for final year of the BSc Business Management students in
January 2012. If you are eligible, you will receive an email from Ipsos Mori inviting you to complete the Survey on-line.
To complete the survey please go to
www.thestudentsurvey.com
NSS 2011
In general 85% of students expressed high levels of satisfaction about their experience on the course, an increase of 5% on the previous year.
As in previous surveys, students rated highly the quality of teaching on the course.
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94% of students said that staff members were good at explaining things.
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91% said that they were able to contact staff when they needed.
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87% found the course intellectually stimulating.
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85% said that the staff were enthusiastic about their subject.
The students suggested areas where improvements could be made. These were:
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The lack of mathematically – based modules
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Feedback on assessment could be better.
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Industry links could be stronger.
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Improvements could be made in administrative arrangements and support.
As a result of the 2011 survey, the following actions have been taken:
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6SSMN318 Managerial Economics has been added to the list of available options. This will add to the existing maths elements in the options in Investment Management, Microeconomics, Economics of work and Pay and Applied Economics as well as the statistical work needed in the compulsory module, Organisational Research Methods.
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Students across the sector rate feedback on assessment lower than other aspects of the course. Over 70% of our students expressed their satisfaction, a significant increase on the previous year. However we accept that we could do better. More immediate feedback is now available through the increased use of on-line tests and exercises. Staff are encouraged to return course work within a strict 4 week deadline and more information is now available to students on examination performance.
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Industry links and aspects of employability in general have been strengthened through more departmental involvement in careers liaison and knowledge transfer. The department has also set up an Advisory Board comprising alumni in senior positions across a wide range of organisations. A teaching innovation on the first year Communications Skills module has been the involvement of a range of companies in giving feedback to students on their cvs and communication skills in general.
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Additional administrative staff are being employed by the department in 2011-12 to strengthen student support, particularly in such areas as timetabling and tutorial allocation.
NSS 2010
The key
messages from the 2010 NSS for the Department of Management were:
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In 2010, students rated the quality of teaching on the BSc Business Management highly.
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91% said that staff are good at explaining their subject.
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83% thought staff are enthusiastic about what they teach.
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In the comments sections students noted the value of good staff-student communication, and highlighted the benefits of a wide range of optional modules.
Some
areas for improvement were suggested:
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More economics modules would be welcome
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Quantitative module(s) in the 3rd year would be of interest
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Coursework feedback could be faster.
As a result of the 2010 NSS, the following
actions have been taken:
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In 2010/11 the Department has introduced two new optional economics modules, 2nd and 3rd year. Overall, this leaves the balance of economics modules within the programme as follows: 25% of the first year of the programme comprises a compulsory course in economics (Principles of Economics 4SSMN136) and students can select 2 economics modules in their second year, and another 2 in the third year. In addition, students can opt for a 30 credit dissertation module, specialising in aspects of economics.
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In 2010-11 the Department has introduced two new optional accounting modules (in 2nd and 3rd year). After changes introduced in the last two years 25% of the first year of the programme comprises a compulsory course in Accounting and Financial Management (4SSMN135); in the second year students can select 2 finance and accounting modules in their 4 option choices; and in the third year they can pick 3 out of 8 choices. In addition, in the third year, students can opt for a 30 credit dissertation module, specialising in aspects of accounting and finance. Quantitative analysis forms part of a new 30 credit core module in Year 2 (5SSMN240 Organisational Research Methods) and an option module in Year 3 (6SSMN346 Economics of Work and Pay).
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The Department has implemented a policy that all coursework should be returned to students within a maximum of 4 weeks, with the return date stated on the coursework assignment sheet. Additionally, from this year onwards an Examiner's Report or commentary on the previous year's examination and/or coursework assignment for each module will be placed on the relevant e-learning page, in order to provide additional feedback to students.
NSS 2009
The key
message from the 2009 NSS for the Department of Management was that students rated the quality of teaching on the BSc Business Management highly.
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84% said that staff are good at explaining their subject.
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82% thought staff are enthusiastic about what they teach.
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In the comments sections students noted the value of smaller class sizes, especially in the 3rd Year, and highlighted the benefits of a wide range of optional modules
Some
areas for improvement were suggested:
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More advice on course choices would be helpful
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Having all the exams in May is very pressurised
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Essay feedback could be faster.
As a result, the following
actions were taken:
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The department has initiated a series of ‘taster’ sessions so that students can make more informed module decision. The convenors of optional modules give a brief outline of their module at these events.
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The assessment profile for each module has been streamlined.
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A number of coursework options have been introduced to give students more control over how many exams they take in the May period.
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The department is investigating ways of ensuring coursework feedback is prompt in all cases.