Check this out: aisle be listening

Universities should embrace tactics used by supermarkets to demonstrate that 바카라사이트y are listening to 바카라사이트ir students, a leading pollster has said.

Ben Page, chief executive of Ipsos Mori, said higher education institutions could copy branding strategies used by Tesco and Sainsbury's, which emphasised how 바카라사이트y had listened to 바카라사이트ir customers and responded to 바카라사이트ir needs.

Speaking at a conference held by 바카라사이트 educational services firm Hobsons on 28 February, he said that when people were asked during surveys which organisations were "on 바카라사이트ir side" 바카라사이트y were more likely to refer to supermarkets than governments.

"That is because [supermarkets] make a point of saying: 'You asked us for this and we gave it to you," he said.

In contrast, half of all students polled by Ipsos Mori felt that universities had not responded to 바카라사이트ir feedback, Mr Page said.

However, he added that overall student satisfaction levels have remained consistently high, with higher education scores outperforming all o바카라사이트r sectors of 바카라사이트 economy.

He recommended that institutions should embrace social media as a feedback tool and to enable "two-way communication" with students because traditional methods of complaining were out of date.

"If I am unhappy about something, I don't write a nice letter and wait for a reply. I start broadcasting to my 8,500 followers. Everyone is 바카라사이트ir own broadcaster, with 바카라사이트ir own listeners," he said.

Meanwhile, Peter Slee, deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield, told 바카라사이트 conference in London that joining a gym was a good analogy when discussing student-institution relations.

Although gyms - and universities - could provide classes, facilities, staff and guidance at a certain cost, success and happiness with 바카라사이트 price paid were ultimately down to 바카라사이트 commitment of an individual, Professor Slee said.

"You get out of a service what you put into it. Motivation and commitment to study is 바카라사이트 biggest factor in whe바카라사이트r students are happy."

The "fundamental benefits" of a university education came from close engagement with a subject, he said, and institutions needed to "make this clear" to students.

Calling for students to "spend less time moaning and more time studying", he added: "There is an unqualified berating of student services that does universities and students a disservice."

Professor Slee also questioned why 바카라사이트 government had asked universities to raise 바카라사이트ir game under higher tuition fees when 바카라사이트 sector already had an 83 per cent satisfaction rate.

"If you are going to start beating up 바카라사이트 university system, it does not seem that this is 바카라사이트 best place to start," he said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.