|
By Luke Starr
A top university Dean has staunchly denied accusations that Bournemouth University has pressurised students into reflecting favourably on the institute in the National Student Survey (NSS).
Dr Brian Astin, Dean of the Student Experience, defended the university after a business student complained that his lecture was interrupted to “pressurise us (students) into rating the university well”.
The incident was then picked up by the BBC, who mentioned it in an expose of how students nationwide are being told to falsify their ratings in the government-backed survey.
“Students across the university are encouraged to give feedback in a number of ways and I do not believe we are pressurising them in the manner suggested,” said Dr Astin.
“My understanding is that one student wrote to the Dean of the Business School in this vein and that the Dean's response was clear in rejecting notion that he had pressurised students.”
The NSS is designed to help future generations of higher education students in making their choices.
Students in the BBC article claimed that they were being told that unfavourable feedback would result in their degree loosing its worth.
Dr.Astin said the NSS is just one way of auditing universities, and that internal regulation should also be taken into consideration.
He said: “Anyone interested in an in-depth view of the current quality of the student experience at Bournemouth University should look to our internal quality processes, which are also audited externally by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
“At unit level we have Student Unit Evaluation (SUE) forms, whilst at programme level we have annual Programme Monitoring Reports, regular student representative reports, focus groups and informal feedback to tutors.
“Programme teams act on this information and annual action plans are produced to ensure ongoing enhancements to programmes at Bournemouth University.”
Are you satisfied with your experience at Bournemouth University, or have you felt pressured to give positive feedback in surveys? Have your say below.
|
