1. Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2010 Interim Results
Dr Pam Wells
Adviser, Evidence-Informed Practice

2. Background Online questionnaire Voluntary and anonymous
Based on PRES methodology
Voluntary and anonymous
At both institution and student level
Second national administration
Larger sample than last year
Benchmarking

3. Questionnaire Core survey Institutional questions
Nine main areas of interest
Demographic information
Institutional questions
Participating institutions ask as many extra questions as they choose, and design these questions themselves

4. Motivations
Quality of teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Dissertation and supervision
Organisation and management
Learning resources
Skills and personal development
Career and professional development
Overall satisfaction

5. PTES 2010
77 participating HEIs from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Flexible survey period, 15 Feb – 28 May
More than 220,000 students surveyed
Interim results, 19 April
70 HEIs
17,531 students

6. Participating HEIs 70 institutions contributing interim data
Between 7 and 1,256 responses (0 – 7%)
Proportion of data
Number of HEIs
Less than 1% 36
Between 1% and 2% 18
More than 2% 16

7. PTES cohort

8. PTES cohort 43% male, 57% female 64% home, 11% EU, 25% overseas
59% full-time, 39% part-time
74% face-to-face, 26% distance
67% started their programme between 1 Sep and 31 Dec 2009
Further 18% started in the previous academic year ( )

9. Age of participants

10. Age by mode of study

11. Discipline

12. Employment
51% in paid employment

13. Main motivations for taking this programme
To progress in my current career path (i.e. a professional qualification)
53%
To improve my employment prospects
For personal interest
44%
To enable me to progress to a higher level qualification (e.g. PhD)
33%
To change my current career
18%
As a requirement to enter a particular profession
17%
To meet the requirements of my current job 8%
Other 4%

14. Motivation Reasons for studying at this particular institution
The location of the institution
38%
The overall reputation of the institution
37%
The institution’s reputation in my chosen subject area
35%
Delivery of the programme is flexible enough to fit around my life
23%
The reputation of the department
It was recommended to me
20%
Funding was available to me to study this particular programme
17%

15. Motivation Reasons for studying at this particular institution
I have studied at this institution before
16%
Graduates from this institution have good career and employment prospects
14%
It is the only institution offering this programme
13%
The cost of the programme compared to other institutions
12%
My employer advised or encouraged me to do it 8%
Other 7%
The way the programme is assessed 6%

16. Quality of teaching and learning
37% said that the teaching quality on their programme was consistently good
53% said that the teaching quality was variable but generally good
Only 2% said it was consistently poor

17. Teaching and learning % agree PTES 2009
The course is intellectually stimulating
82%
84%
The teaching and learning methods are effective for this type of programme
79%
81%
I am happy with the teaching support I received from staff on my course
70%
71%
There is sufficient contact time (face to face and/or virtual/online) between staff and students to support effective learning
68%
67%

18. Staff
% agree
PTES 2009
Staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching
83%
Staff are good at explaining things
80%
Staff made the subject interesting
76%
77%

19. Assessment and feedback
% agree
PTES 2009
The criteria used in marking have been made clear in advance
71%
74%
Assessment arrangements and marking have been fair
I have received detailed comments (written or oral) on my work
65%
68%
Feedback on my work has helped me clarify things I did not understand
57%
58%
Feedback on my work has been prompt
I received feedback in time to allow me to improve my next assignment
56%

20. Dissertation and supervision
% agree
PTES 2009
My supervisor has the skills and subject knowledge to adequately support my dissertation
76%
80%
I understand the required standards for the dissertation
73%
77%
My supervisor makes a real effort to understand any difficulties I face
67%
70%
My supervisor provides helpful feedback on my progress
63%
66%
I have been given good guidance in topic selection and refinement by my supervisor
65%
I have received good guidance in my literature search from my supervisor
58%
60%

21. Workload
52% said that the workload on their programme was more or less what they expected
31% said it was higher than they expected
11% said it was much higher than they expected

22. Organisation and management
% agree
PTES 2009
The timetable fits well with my other commitments
76%
80%
Any changes in the programme or teaching have been communicated effectively
72%
74%
The balance of core modules and options is appropriate
70%
The programme is well organised and is running smoothly
69%
The balance between scheduled contact time and private study is appropriate

23. Learning resources % agree PTES 2009
I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to
78%
The library resources and services are easily accessible
77%
The library resources and services are good enough for my needs
72%
75%

24. Learning resources % agree
I am satisfied with the quality of learning materials available to me (Print, online material, DVDs, etc.)
75%
I have been able to access social learning spaces (e.g. for group working) on campus when I needed to
69%
I have been able to access specialised equipment, facilities, or rooms when I needed them
66%

25. Skills and personal development
% agree
PTES 2009
The programme has developed my research skills
77%
79%
The programme has developed my transferable skills
As a result of the programme I am more confident about independent learning
73%
75%
As a result of the programme, I feel confident in tackling unfamiliar problems
66%
The programme has helped me to present myself with confidence
65%
As a results of the programme my communication skills have improved
63%
61%

26. Career and professional development
% agree
PTES 2009
As a result of this programme, I believe my future employment prospects are better
78%
I feel better prepared for my future employment
72%
I am encouraged to reflect on my professional development needs
68%
69%

27. Overall satisfaction
The overall experience of my course met or exceeded my expectations – 84%
Quality of teaching and learning met or exceeded my expectations – 82%
Assessment and feedback met or exceeded my expectations – 74%

28. Overall satisfaction
Organisation and management met or exceeded my expectations – 75%
Learning resources met or exceeded my expectations – 87%
Career and professional development met or exceeded my expectations – 88%
Skills and personal development met or exceeded my expectations – 90%

29. Further analysis Scale analysis Multiple regression
Experience of different demographic groups
Benchmarking
National report

30. Next steps Working with PTES HEIs to share effective practice
Using survey findings to inform enhancement activities
Stop press: considering another national administration of PTES in 2011
To be confirmed