The results are in for the 2024 National Student Survey (NSS). The NSS, one of the largest surveys of its kind globally, collects final-year students’ opinions on a range of topics, including teaching quality, assessments, and mental well-being services. Every university in the UK takes part, as well as colleges and smaller institutions, with almost 346,000 students taking part in the latest survey.
Within the NSS there is a dedicated question about how effectively the Students' Union represents students' academic interests. We are thrilled to report a 6.7% increase in student opinion with this question compared to last year's survey. The SU has consistently performed above the UK sector average, and this year we are 6% higher than the sector average. Additionally, we have climbed 40 places in the overall rankings and are now in the top quartile for the most improved SU scores.
SU President Jiji said “Our student leadership model places students at the heart of student life here at Bath, our student leaders have worked tirelessly to represent their peers and improve the student experience. For us, student feedback is more than just surveys; it is about enabling students to be active citizens in shaping their university experience. These results highlight some key success areas for us, but we also have areas that need improving, and I am looking forward to driving this forward over the next year".
Chief Executive Ryan Bird has added “We're really pleased to see a significant increase in our NSS score, which reflects our relentless focus on improving the lives of Bath students. Representing students' academic interests is core to our purpose, and we are looking forward to working in partnership with students and the University to further enhance our role in this over the coming years."
We are pleased to see the University also score above sector average and seeing increases in many areas, however, we continue to be concerned about assessment and feedback scores. We will continue to work with the university on their plans going forward in this area with the support of student representation through the SU Officer team and our student leaders.