Changing times, changing student expectations Rebecca Bunting Deputy Vice-Chancellor
How has it come to this? Students lose £20 a lecture after snow sends university into lockdown Local newspaper Swansea January 2010
Young participation has increased in England 1994/5 162,000 [30% of cohort] entering HE 2009/10 predicted 239,000 [36% of cohort] entering HE Source Trends in young participation in higher education: core results for England Hefce Jan 2010
We too have grown…. UoP total student numbers 1998/9 = 15, /3 = 18, /6 = 20, /10 = 21,604
Participation has widened as well as increased Young, full-time u/g entrants from social classes 4-7: Benchmark 29.9% UoP 30.9% Young full-time u/g entrants from low participation neighbourhoods: Benchmark 8.8% UoP 10.7% Mature full-time u/g entrants, no previous HE and from low participation neighbourhoods Benchmark 9.2% UoP 12.5%
Factors affecting students’ experiences Fees and debt Around one third of students with debts are concerned about their levels of debt Students in higher socio-economic groups are the most likely to have no debts Students in higher socio-economic groups are the least likely to be concerned about their levels of debt
Work and study Concerns about graduate employment 24/7 culture Pace of knowledge expansion Culture of consumer rights
Factors over which we have some control Strategic commitment: to give an excellent student experience focused on knowledge and skills essential for roles in the global workforce. Student voice: representation, listening and giving feedback, communicating, keeping students informed Commitment to personal tutoring Recognition of the whole student experience
How do professional and support services contribute? More demanding students? More diverse in nature.. Paying more.. Expecting more.. How can we better understand students’ needs?