【英国高等教育政策研究所_HEPI_】2024年英国大学生学术体验调查报告_84页_1mb

2024 Student Academic Experience Survey Summary

Core Content

The 2024 Student Academic Experience Survey (SAES), conducted by Advance HE and HEPI, provides a comprehensive overview of the experiences of full-time undergraduate students in the UK. The survey includes a large sample size and a mix of traditional and new questions, reflecting evolving policy and student concerns. It highlights both positive trends and ongoing challenges in the higher education sector.

Main Findings

Value for Money

• Positive Trends: Perceptions of value for money have improved significantly since the pandemic, with 39% of students feeling they received 'good' or 'very good' value, the highest since pre-Covid levels.
• Decline in Poor Value: The proportion of students who felt they received 'poor' or 'very poor' value dropped from 31% in 2023 to 26% in 2024.
• International Students: International students, especially from the EU and Rest of the World, showed notable improvements in their value perceptions.
• Cost of Living: Cost-of-living concerns remain a major driver of poor value perceptions, with 44% of students citing this as a key issue.
• Student Comments: Open comments reveal that international students feel they are overpaying, while others highlight the lack of support and the pressure of university fees.

Meeting Expectations

• Experience vs. Expectations: 48% of students feel their experience is both better and worse than expected, a trend that has remained consistent.
• Positive Shift: A net positive view of the experience compared to expectations has emerged, aligning with pre-pandemic levels.
• Regional Differences: Students from Wales reported a higher likelihood of their expectations being exceeded, while those from Northern Ireland were more likely to feel their experience was worse than expected.
• Reasons for Disappointment: Teaching quality, course organisation, and student support were the most commonly cited reasons for unmet expectations.

Teaching and Assessment

• Improved Ratings: Teaching and assessment ratings have reached some of their highest levels in recent years.
• Impact of Boycott: Despite the 2023 marking and assessment boycott, students' satisfaction with feedback has not declined, indicating resilience in the system.
• Teaching Quality: Perceptions of teaching staff quality have improved, showing a strong focus on academic standards across the sector.

Workload and Teaching Intensity

• Contact Hours: Satisfaction with contact hours is at its highest level ever, suggesting that students appreciate the intensity of their workload.
• Workload Trends: Workload levels have stabilised, with students reporting a high number of hours spent on paid employment (14.5 hours per week on average).
• Online Learning: A significant proportion of students continue to engage with online learning, indicating its growing role in the academic experience.

Student Priorities and Support Needs

• Paid Employment: A large number of students are working to support their living costs, with some spending over 14 hours a week.
• Caring Responsibilities: A growing number of students are managing caring responsibilities, which can affect their academic performance.
• AI Use: One in three students uses AI at least once a week for their studies, with higher usage among males, international students, and older demographics.
• Campus Environment: Positive feedback on campus quality and facilities suggests that investment in infrastructure can enhance the student experience.

Key Challenges

• Cost of Living Crisis: The cost-of-living crisis continues to impact students, with many reporting financial stress and a need for additional support.
• Workload and Balancing Demands: Students are juggling academic work, paid employment, and personal responsibilities, leading to increased pressure.
• Geographic Disparities: There are regional differences in both value perceptions and student experiences, with students in England reporting the lowest satisfaction with value for money.
• Social and Cultural Factors: Students from ethnic minority backgrounds and international students have different experiences and perceptions, highlighting the need for targeted support.

Policy and Future Implications

• Student Engagement: While most students are registered to vote, engagement with national politics remains relatively low, suggesting a need for better political awareness and participation.
• Sector Resilience: Despite financial and reputational challenges, the sector shows resilience, with many students returning to pre-pandemic levels of satisfaction.
• Recommendations: The report includes policy recommendations aimed at easing pressures on students and institutions, focusing on financial support, workload management, and improving campus inclusivity.

Sample and Methodology

• Sample Size: 10,319 full-time undergraduate students were surveyed, with 8,394 responses from Savanta and 1,925 from Torfac and Orchidea.
• Weighting: Data was weighted using HESA statistics to ensure it reflects the broader UK undergraduate population.
• Coverage: The survey covers a wide range of topics, including value for money, teaching quality, workload, student support, and new areas like AI use and voting intentions.

Conclusion

The 2024 SAES highlights a generally positive academic experience for UK students, with notable improvements in value for money and teaching quality. However, it also underscores persistent challenges, particularly the cost-of-living crisis and the increasing demands on students' time. The survey serves as a valuable tool for policymakers and institutions to understand and respond to these evolving needs.