What Students Want – Needs and Expectations

Professor Shirley Pearce Vice-ChancellorThursday 12th May 2011

The Context:

Unparalleled change and uncertainty for universities AND students

Reductions in HEFCE T income…..exactly how much will this be?

Increases in tuition fees………what will this do to demand and expectations?

Do not yet understand what will drive student’s decisions and their willingness to pay.

New market place - modes of delivery, diversity, private providers.

And at the same time we must deliver excellent research and enterprise

We must manage the expectations of all our stakeholders

What do our students say they value?

A high quality learning and teaching environment

Curriculum profile – attractive and ‘relevant’ programmes

Employability – explicit links between their courses and employability…….placements

Rewarding Employability Skills….employability award

Careers Guidance – well co-ordinated activities and information on opportunities

Professional support for student enterprise initiatives

What do our students say they value?

Excellent physical resources for learning (library, teaching rooms, access to IT etc) and

easy access

Staff available and regular contact

Feedback and discussion

Excellent recreational resources

A friendly campus environment

How to develop a great student experience?

All institutions are different and provide different kinds of student experience

At Loughborough we believe we must:

Maintain the mutual respect between students and staff

Recognise the value of the Students’ Union to the student experience (eg ‘Our Lufbra’)

Continue the excellent partnership between the University and Students’ Union

Enable academic departments to listen to student views

Deliver the responsive support services which students really value

How to develop a great student experience?

Enrich student learning by providing opportunities linked to academics research/enterprise

connections

Look for even more ways to improve employability of students

Quality Assurance procedures

Good induction and transition programmes for students

Keep students in touch with us when they leave to build on the fondness for their institution

and friendships they have made

Implications of rising student expectations:

Information and engagement will become key

Better information required on what differentiates your institution

Promotional statements need to be supported by evidence

KIS good start

Student Charter – focus on mutual expectations and partnership in learning

Address the ‘contact’ and ‘feedback’ questions

Keep the student experience at the centre of our minds

At Loughborough we are committed to continual improvement. No room for complacency

A Great Student Experience

“One university seems to have the edge when it comes to an excellent

all-round experience. Top of the poll – for the fifth year in a row – is

Loughborough University...”Times Higher Education

17th February 2011

Students are at the core of a successful university