Highlights
- Using the dissatisfaction index created by HARTE UEA, Economics UEA ranks 10th among large English providers of Economics degrees according to the NSS 2024 outcomes.
- Economics UEA achieves a low student dissatisfaction score of 0.178, significantly better than the English Wesley Group average of 0.230 and the Russell Group average of 0.524.
Background: The National Student Survey (NSS), initiated in 2005, has become a cornerstone for measuring teaching excellence within UK Higher Education (HE). It plays a crucial role in shaping institutional strategies and influencing their rankings within the Teaching Excellence Framework. Despite facing criticism for its approach to student feedback and potential manipulations, the NSS’s impact on educational practices remains substantial. The survey’s importance is underscored by its integration into national league tables and its direct influence on policy decisions and institutional improvements.
Analysis: Building on the methodology introduced in HARTE UEA’s foundational paper, this report uses the NSS 2024 data to construct a student dissatisfaction index for the Economics discipline. This index is developed from responses to 27 questions across all question categories of the NSS. To counteract biases—such as halo effects, where positive general impressions about a teacher might skew the responses—the methodology involves a two-step weighting process. This process accounts for the variability in dissatisfaction among different institutions, ensuring that the index provides a robust measure of student dissatisfaction.
The results from this methodology highlight Economics UEA’s exemplary performance in achieving a dissatisfaction score of 0.178, placing it well above its peers in the English Wesley and Russell Groups, which recorded higher dissatisfaction scores of 0.230 and 0.524, respectively. This stark contrast underscores Economics UEA’s success in delivering a superior student experience compared to other leading institutions.
Discussion: The findings from the NSS 2024 are significant, not only in reinforcing the value of the dissatisfaction index as a tool for measuring student experience but also in demonstrating Economics UEA’s strategic successes. The comparative analysis provided by the index allows institutions to benchmark against each other, fostering a competitive and improvement-driven environment within the sector. This is particularly important as the education landscape continues to evolve, with student satisfaction playing a key role in attracting prospective students and securing funding.
Summary: The NSS 2024 outcomes not only reflect Economics UEA’s standing among the top English providers of Economics degrees but also highlight the utility of the dissatisfaction index in providing actionable insights. As institutions continue to navigate the changing educational environment, tools like the dissatisfaction index are invaluable for enhancing student satisfaction and improving overall educational quality. This report underscores the need for ongoing adjustments and refinements to both the NSS and institutional strategies to better meet student expectations and academic standards.
Reference
Cook, S., Watson, D., Webb, A., & Webb, R. (2024). Student dissatisfaction in Higher Education: A ‘fuzzy’ index approach. Studies in Higher Education, 49(7), 1107-1119.