Using Student Satisfaction Data to Start Conversations about Continuous Improvement

Abstract: Quality Approaches in Higher Education Vol. 2(1) (June 2011) article by Chenicheri Sid Nair and Lorraine Bennett. This article advocates the value of the student voice as a catalyst for initial conversations and discussions about designing and implementing continuous quality improvement action plans in higher education. In the case study, student satisfaction data and feedback collected through unit (subject) evaluations at a large, research-intensive university in Australia were drawn upon to inform a targeted intervention strategy that addressed pedagogical and curriculum design concerns. Working from the student data, staff teams identified and prioritized areas for improvement and focused on making changes that had high impact on student learning. While this systematic quality improvement initiative was developed in response to student feedback in one university, the contention is that this approach has relevance and application to universities around the world that are focusing on improving the quality of student learning and the student experience.

Keywords: Quality Approaches in Higher Education - Assessment/Surveys