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Students give thumbs up to local Higher Education Institutions

11 August 2009

Northern Ireland’s higher education establishments have once again out-shone their United Kingdom counterparts at levels of student learning satisfaction.

Results from the fifth National Student Survey (NSS) show that 84% of respondents in Northern Ireland were satisfied with their course as opposed to 82% across the United Kingdom.

While all Northern Ireland’s institutions scored above the national average on overall satisfaction scales, responses from St Mary’s University College placed the College joint fourth across the United Kingdom.

Praising the work of all those involved in the higher education sector, Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, said: “These results demonstrate once again the value placed on high quality higher education by students and staff at our local institutions. The very high level of satisfaction reflected by our students is testament to the commitment of all those involved in this important sector as we work together to make higher education one of the keys to success for our students and, in turn, our economy.”

Northern Ireland students were particularly content with the standards of teaching (83%), available learning resources (85%) and the level of academic support (74%). In all the key assessment areas Northern Ireland institutions were rated at equal to or higher than their United Kingdom counterparts.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1.The National Student Survey (NSS) is commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), the Department of Employment and Learning (DELNI) and the other funding bodies.  It is fully supported by the National Union of Students (NUS).  The survey is administered by Ipsos MORI, an independent market research agency.  The NSS is a national initiative, conducted annually since 2005. The survey runs across all publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and participating HEIs in Scotland.

2.Overall satisfaction rates at local institutions were:

     St Mary’s University College (93%),

       Queen’s University Belfast (83%),

      Stranmillis University College (84%),

       University of Ulster (84%).

A table showing the comparison between 2008 and 2009 National Students Survey Results for the UK and NI can be found at http://www.delni.gov.uk/studentsthumbsuptohe

3.Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours contact the Executive Information Service Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440.