Providing effective feedback

To monitor and make improvements, the University needs feedback on student experiences.

We’re committed to providing students with an outstanding learning and teaching experience, programmes of study that are challenging and of international calibre, and opportunities and support to achieve your academic and personal potential. To ensure we continue to meet these commitments, we need to know how well we are doing and what you’d like to see done better. Student feedback is an important part of this process. Your feedback also provides us with ideas and incentives to make further improvements in what we do for you.

Students sometimes assume that their feedback is not heard or valued, or that it doesn't make a difference. The first step to making your voice heard is to complete the course evaluation or survey provided to you by the University.  The more students who complete the evaluation or survey, the more significance and impact the results can have. 

 The University sometimes may take a few weeks, months or longer to take on board and action student suggestions, but we do listen and act.  In some cases, you will reap the benefit yourself, and in others, future students in your course or programme will benefit.  In all cases, be assured your feedback is noted and actioned where possible.  See the related links for some ways that the University has made changes in response to student feedback.  

As a student, you will know when you have received helpful feedback, and when you have gotten feedback that doesn't really give you the information you need in order to improve or reflect on your work.

Giving effective and constructive feedback is a skill that you can develop further by sharing your views through course and teaching evaluations and surveys.

Here are some ways you can give effective feedback:

   - be specific and realistic

   - focus on the learning and teaching issue, not the person

   - suggest solutions

   - keep it relevant