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Provost commends departments for excellent performance in 2019-20 NSS and PTES

12 January 2021

UCL departments that achieved high scores and significant improvements in nationwide 2019-20 student satisfaction surveys received Provost’s Commendations at a virtual reception.

Teacher in front of a class of students

The National Student Survey (NSS), and Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) provide valuable feedback, and form part of UCL’s commitment to encouraging student feedback and engagement to build an inspirational student experience.

UCL recognises the work colleagues do to make improvements in departments, schools and divisions. Michael Arthur, outgoing UCL Provost & President, and Anthony Smith, Vice-Provost (Education & Student Affairs), awarded Provost’s Commendations at a 6 January virtual reception, where commended departments were invited to share reflections and insights on their success.

The celebration recognised departments that achieved the highest overall satisfaction scores, and the most improved satisfaction scores, for each of the 2020 surveys. The commendations also took into consideration performance across areas such as satisfaction in Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support. Response rates were taken into account when selecting the commended departments.

As part of the event, each commended team was invited to comment on how they’d achieved the improvements in student satisfaction. Without exception, attendees talked about the role of teamwork (across academic and professional services staff) in their success. There was also a shared recognition of how the move to more online education in the past year has created opportunities to build new connections across teams.
A common theme across the commended departments was also their purposeful efforts to increase accountability to, and develop mature relationships with, their students. Embracing the Annual Student Experience Review (ASER) framework and nurturing a network of committed, informed and active academic reps have been key to much of the success we've seen in this year's NSS and PTES scores and comments." – Professor Deborah Gill, Pro-Vice-Provost (Student Experience) and Director of the Medical School.

The commendations

The achievements of the following departments are celebrated: 

  • The Department of Psychology and Human Development in the UCL Institute of Education achieved the most improved score for overall satisfaction in the NSS (up 18 points from 2019 to 97.4%), as well as high scores and impressive increases across all the NSS categories.
  • The UCL Faculty of Laws achieved a rise of 5ppts in overall satisfaction in the NSS to 91%, and a 10ppt increase to 82% satisfaction with Learning Opportunities.
  • The Department of Statistical Science achieved a 5-point rise in overall satisfaction to 89%. Statistical Science also claimed the most improved score for Learning Opportunities.
  • The School of Management achieved an impressive increase in overall satisfaction in the NSS (up 14 points to 91%) and were also most improved in satisfaction with Assessment & Feedback (up 18 points to 76%) in the NSS.  In the PTES, they were also commended for a rise in the overall satisfaction score and a 6-point improvement in PGT students’ satisfaction with Learning Resources.   
  • The Department of Physics & Astronomy had one of the most improved scores in the area of Student Voice in the NSS, where satisfaction climbed 13ppts to 77%. In the PTES, they also achieved an impressive 21-point improvement in students’ overall satisfaction (78%). 
  • The Institute of Archaeology achieved an outstanding 100% overall satisfaction in the NSS. They also saw an impressive increase in Student Voice scores – up 9 points to 85%.
  • The UCL Medical School achieved improved results in a range of question areas. The most notable rises came in Assessment & Feedback (up 12 points) and Student Voice (up 6 points to 80% satisfaction) in the NSS.
  • The Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment achieved an impressive 95% in overall satisfaction in NSS – a rise of 9 points this year – and an increase of 16 points to 87% for Academic Support, making them the most improved in that area.
  • The Division of Psychology & Language Sciences (PALS) were commended for a 5-point increase to 80% satisfaction with Learning Opportunities in the NSS and a 7-point increase to 89% overall satisfaction in PTES. Also in PTES, their Organisation & Management satisfaction scores increased by 5 points to 78%.
  • The Department of Statistical Science were commended for an 11-point increase in their PTES overall satisfaction score, achieving 93%.
  • The Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health saw overall satisfaction in PTES climb to 92%. Other notable improvements in PTES were in Assessment & Feedback (+15 points to 83% satisfaction) and Organisation & Management (+16 points to 85% satisfaction).
  • The UCL Ear Institute, with a response rate of 55%, achieved an 8-point increase in students’ overall satisfaction (90%) in PTES, and a similar rise in Teaching & Learning scores.
  • The Department of Chemical Engineering achieved most improved for overall satisfaction in PTES, leaping 24 points to 89%. They were also most improved in Student Engagement PTES scores, which increased 19 points to 80% satisfaction.

Get involved in this year’s campaigns

The 2021 NSS is now live and runs until 30 April. Even in these most exceptional times, the NSS remains a powerful feedback tool and of course there are numerous examples in the ‘You Shaped UCL’ campaign of how student feedback has already driven significant improvements across UCL.

Input from students during the pandemic has significantly informed the decisions we've taken to support them. This NSS is important to understanding what we've got right during this unprecedented year, and where we might better focus efforts to meet the challenges ahead.

Please download the NSS promotional materials and encourage your students to take the survey. 

The 2021 PTES will launch in April; more details will be sent to departments beforehand.