Student Survey 2009

In the last day we received the results of the inaugural IT services survey. This was conducted on our behalf by an independent agency TORA (The Oxford Research Agency). It was an online survey conducted over three weeks in May with a randome cross section of 1000 students invited to particiapte and there was a survey response of about 15%. Here are the key conclusions in summary form:

• Usage of Univeristy IT facilities is high (9 in 10 use PC clusters at least occassionally and 8 in 10 claiming general use).
• 97% of students use their University email accounts, with 70% on a daily basis
• Usage is more frequent among younger students (25 and under). Males more frequent than females.
• Four in five are satisfied with opening hours and availablility of facilities. However, in three of the eight rated aspects our students are significantly less satisfied than students at our benchmark University (opening hours, reliability of systems and prepay printing service). A quarter of students are disatisfied with reliability of systems.
• Key improvements were increase in number of PCs, number of printers increased, quality of computer rooms, increasing silent study spaces.
• Three quarters of students agree that IT resources and services are good enough for their needs and less than one in ten disagree. This is comparable with benchmark.

The full survey will circulate shortly within the University - the aim is to be transparent about the information and now take action to respond to students key priorities. I'd like to thank all the students that agreed to take part in the survey. I believe it has been a very useful exercise. Do others sense that the students have got it right??