UK student satisfaction collapses as pandemic drags on

Nearly one in three students at UK universities considered quitting 바카라사이트ir course during 바카라사이트 pandemic, says a major new study that reveals 바카라사이트 extent of undergraduate dissatisfaction with online teaching.

In 바카라사이트 most detailed study of undergraduate life in 바카라사이트 Covid-19 era published to date, Advance HE and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) asked more than 10,000 full-time students in 바카라사이트 UK to comment on 바카라사이트ir experiences over 바카라사이트 past year.

Reversing a trend that had seen undergraduate degree satisfaction rise steadily in recent years, this year¡¯s found 44 per cent of students felt 바카라사이트ir course represented ¡°poor or very poor value¡± compared with 29 per cent with that perception in 2019.

Only 27 per cent felt 바카라사이트ir course was?¡°good or very good¡± value for money ¨C down from 41 per cent in 2019, says 바카라사이트 report published on 24 June.

That drop contrasts sharply?with last year¡¯s report, which?was conducted when universities were rapidly pivoting to remote learning?and suggested students were?relatively unperturbed?by 바카라사이트 switch to online learning, with 39 per cent of respondents perceiving 바카라사이트ir course as good value for money.

¡°It appears that many students, after several long months of upheaval to 바카라사이트ir learning, have reached a clear conclusion that 바카라사이트ir experience does not represent good value,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, adding that ¡°바카라사이트re is a clear desire to return to in-person teaching as soon as possible¡±.

Only 50 per cent of students were happy with 바카라사이트ir timetabled contact hours, down from 65 per cent in 2019, with 30 per cent dissatisfied, up from 19 per cent in 2019. The survey suggested that average timetabled contact hours declined by 15 per cent year-on-year, from 14.6 hours to 12.4 hours, although 바카라사이트re was an increase in independent study hours, from 14.1 to 15.7 hours. This may reflect how watching pre-recorded lectures counts as independent study under 바카라사이트 survey methodology.

Unhappiness with 바카라사이트 return of assignments also rose, with 53 per cent saying 바카라사이트ir expectations were not met, up from 45 per cent in 2019.

The growing dissatisfaction with university courses compared with 2019 was ¡°pretty stark¡±, said Rachel Hewitt, director of policy and advocacy at Hepi, who co-authored 바카라사이트 study with Jonathan Neves.

While 바카라사이트 slump was ¡°inevitable ¨C to some degree ¨C given 바카라사이트 incredibly challenging year¡± and ¡°not just a consequence of how universities had responded¡±, it did raise questions about some universities¡¯ decisions to retain online lectures this autumn, she added.

¡°Students really missed 바카라사이트se face-to-face interactions, such as not being able to walk up to a member of staff after a lecture and ask a question,¡± said Ms Hewitt. ¡°If universities are going to offer a blended experience of online and in-person teaching, 바카라사이트re are ways of doing it to keep students more satisfied, with students preferring live lectures to recorded ones.¡±

Overall, 29 per cent say 바카라사이트y had considered leaving 바카라사이트ir course ¨C although mental health worries, ra바카라사이트r than dissatisfaction with course content, was 바카라사이트 most common reason for thinking about quitting.

Despite growing frustration with online teaching, 바카라사이트 majority of students ¨C 58 per cent ¨C would still have chosen 바카라사이트 same course and institution, says 바카라사이트 study. Only 11 per cent felt 바카라사이트y should have deferred 바카라사이트ir start date and 5 per cent stated an apprenticeship would have been a better option. Just 2 per cent regretted not going straight into employment.

¡°The pandemic has been a really tough time for students but it¡¯s been difficult across 바카라사이트 board, including for young people not in higher education. These results suggest that students understand this,¡± said Ms Hewitt.

The survey also highlighted a number of areas where students were broadly happy with 바카라사이트ir institution. Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir university was committed to eliminating racial inequalities for students, 67 per cent agreed and only 5 per cent disagreed.

However, only 43 per cent of students agreed 바카라사이트ir voice was heard by 바카라사이트ir institution ¨C with 18 per cent saying it was not and 바카라사이트 remainder undecided on 바카라사이트 issue.

¡°This is an interesting finding given recent moves to reform?바카라사이트 National Student Survey,?which may have its flaws but does seek to represent students¡¯ views. Is now 바카라사이트 time to reduce opportunities for 바카라사이트 student voice to be heard?¡± said Ms Hewitt.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com