Today, the Students’ Union President and the President of the Lecturers’ Union have signed a statement articulating a positive vision on the use of Student Module Feedback
The Students' Union and Lecturers' Union have released a joint statement outlining general principles on how module feedback should be conducted at Swansea University.
President of the Students' Union, Zahid Raja (pictured), and the President of the Lecturers Union (UCU), Dr Simon Hoffman, have been meeting to look at what the contribution of student feedback should look like in the development of teaching staff at Swansea University.
End of module surveys are completed by students across the University which are used to help inform staff reviews that take place between teaching staff and their line managers twice a year. The statement below articulates general principles in how the Students' Union and the Lecturers’ Union (UCU) believe student module feedback should be used at Swansea University.
Joint Statement on Student Module Feedback
Swansea UCU and Swansea SU believe that Student Module Feedback provides a valuable source of student voice on teaching and facilities at Swansea University.
We believe that Student Module Feedback provides students at Swansea University with a valuable opportunity to comment on matters which directly affect them, in particular teaching and facilities at Swansea University.
We believe that Student Module Feedback is a useful source of information for lecturers as a contribution toward strengthening teaching, and toward personal development.
We believe that Module Feedback should be undertaken in accordance with the following principles:
-
Student Module Feedback should be carried out in such a way that allows students to make an effective contribution toward evaluating the quality of modules available at Swansea University.
-
The delivery of Student Module Feedback should encourage high returns and consider the validity of the data in the wider context.
-
Student Module Feedback should always be undertaken in the spirit of partnership between students and lecturers with the purpose of enhancing quality.
-
Swansea University should ensure that those responsible for taught modules at Swansea University are properly supported to address issues identified as a result of Student Module Feedback.
-
Student Module Feedback should be used to help Swansea University and lecturers to identify issues affecting the student experience: whilst this will involve identifying areas for improvement in teaching or facilities, Student Module Feedback should not be used as a punitive or disciplinary tool.
-
Student Module Feedback should be carried out consistently throughout the University in accordance with transparent policies.
-
Amongst other things, Swansea University policy on Module Feedback should pay particular regard to issues of equality and confidentiality, both for student responders and for those responsible for taught modules.
-
Without exception, Swansea University should ensure that any policy on Student Module Feedback is rigorously applied across Swansea University.
-
Students and lecturers should be enabled to participate in developing policies and processes relevant to Student Module Feedback.
-
Consistent with the above principles, Swansea University should close the feedback loop by ensuring that students and lecturers are informed of any impact of Student Module Feedback.
This Joint Statement shall be reviewed annually by the Swansea SU and Swansea UCU.
Zahid Raja, President
On Behalf of the Students’ Union
Dr Simon Hoffman
On Behalf of the University College Union