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NSS: Components of Institutional Experience 29 th April 2010 Dr Alex Buckley The Higher Education Academy. Purpose of session. To give an overview of the enhancement work that has been done by UK HEIs, using NSS data Three themes:. 1. Exploring results.
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NSS: Components of Institutional Experience29th April 2010Dr Alex BuckleyThe Higher Education Academy
Purpose of session To give an overview of the enhancement work that has been done by UK HEIs, using NSS data Three themes:
1. Exploring results • NSS results are indicative, not conclusive; they provide a starting-point for further investigation, not an end-point • Two key ways of exploring results further: • Qualitative data • Internal institutional surveys
1. Exploring results: qualitative data • Focus groups: • Free text comments • Use is advocated by some HEIs, used for leverage purposes by student unions
1. Exploring results: triangulation with internal surveys • Many people think that this is one of the key ways of using a high-level national survey like the NSS for enhancement • 2008 Academy report, CHERI 2003 • Internal surveys are: detailed, flexible, targeted • Issues with aligning questions: • NSS questions are too ambiguous: • Survey fatigue: • Artificial improvements
2. Student engagement • Key component of many strategies • Engagement with: students, student representatives and student unions • Two main areas (in addition to focus groups already talked about): • Engaging with Student Unions and student / course representatives • Improving dissemination of information to students
2. Student engagement: Student Unions • Helping to communicate information about the NSS, and to provide input on enhancement
2. Student engagement: Communicating with students • Feedback on what action has been taken, “closing the feedback loop”: • Better information about services and support: • Managing expectations:
3. Enhancement activities: Internal dissemination • Dissemination of data: • Dissemination of good practice
3. Enhancement activities: Changing processes • Direct enhancement activities are very context-specific, but some examples:
Resources available • NSS data • HEFCE website has data from all years, of varying levels of detail • Case studies of enhancement work • EvidenceNet • Ipsos-Mori • NUS • HEA Subject Centres • Disciplinary analysis and support • EvidenceNet • Submit your own case studies • HEA Surveys Conference • 18th May, Nottingham • Places still available!
Dr Alex Buckleyalex.buckley@heacademy.ac.uknss@heacademy.ac.uk