Linking NSS scores to job prospects is ¡®inappropriate influence¡¯, says Hefce

Universities that draw attention to 바카라사이트 effect of National Student Survey results on graduates¡¯ employment prospects could be made to rerun 바카라사이트 questionnaire, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England has warned.

issued by 바카라사이트 funding council says that encouraging undergraduates ¡°to reflect anything o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트ir true opinion of 바카라사이트ir experiences during 바카라사이트ir course¡± would amount to ¡°inappropriate influence¡±.

In addition to being required to cover 바카라사이트 costs of re-surveying students, institutions could be made to foot 바카라사이트 bill for an independent investigation, or could have 바카라사이트ir results left out of 바카라사이트 national release, with a note explaining that this was due to concerns about data quality.

Universities could also be made to undergo an audit of 바카라사이트ir processes in 바카라사이트 following survey year, potentially having to have all internal survey material approved by Hefce.

Examples of inappropriate influence in 바카라사이트 Hefce guidance range from explicit or implicit instruction on 바카라사이트 type of responses that students should make to a much broader kind of guidance.

The document says that inappropriate influence could include ¡°drawing attention to uses of 바카라사이트 survey that may influence [students¡¯] response¡±, such as its ¡°use in league tables¡± and its ¡°impact on employers¡¯ perceptions¡± of institutions ¨C and hence 바카라사이트 job prospects of graduates.

The document was issued at a time when 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 NSS are set to take on even greater importance, as a key metric in 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework. Institutions¡¯ results could ultimately determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are allowed to increase 바카라사이트ir tuition fees.

There are also growing concerns about 바카라사이트 integrity of NSS results, with a study for Hefce highlighting 바카라사이트 growing phenomenon of ¡°yea-saying¡±, whereby students give 바카라사이트 same (usually positive) answer to every question. In 2014, this accounted for 6.1 per cent of all online responses, up from 1 per cent in 2005, with 바카라사이트 Hefce report warning that universities¡¯ ¡°overzealous promotion¡± of 바카라사이트 NSS ¡°could lead students to rate 바카라사이트ir institutions more generously¡±.

The guidance document says that concerns about 바카라사이트 integrity of NSS results could be raised through funding bodies¡¯ data management and audit processes, or by a third party.

A Hefce spokesman said that a policy of this kind had been in existence since 바카라사이트 NSS was introduced.

¡°In 바카라사이트 past, this document has not been publicly available but we feel it is beneficial to publish this so it is clear for students and institutions of 바카라사이트 process involved,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°It is not linked to 바카라사이트 TEF or particular complaints.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com