Engagement Week Feedback Faculty of Education and Sport—School of Architecture and Design

Vice President of Academic Affairs Engagement Week Data— Faulty of Education and Sport School of Architecture and Design Hi everyone, We’ve been busy coding and analysing your comments from Engagement Week, now on a School by School basis. The sheer amount of data we have collected is amazing! From teaching to transport, assessment to accommodation and canteens to Camtasia you clearly have an opinion on all areas of academic life and are not scared to let us know about it. Demographics We collected qualitative feedback from 79 students across the School of Architecture and Design. 58 of these students were from Grand Parade Campus and 21 of these were from Moulsecoomb. Respondents were largely female, 56, with only 22 male respondents. The majority of the respondents were in first year (54%) and second year (35%). This summary includes an overview of comments on the top six comment subject areas with comparison to the university comment trends. The full Keep, Start, Stop commentary from students in the School of Architecture and Design is included at the end of the document. The full Keep, Start, Stop commentary from students in the School of Architecture and Design is included at the end of the document. Thanks again for all of your feedback—we look forward to closing the feedback loop and reporting the changes very soon! Amy Rutland | VP Academic Affairs E: bsuvpa@brighton.ac.uk Facebook: VP AcademicAffairs Brighton-su Twitter: bsuacademic

‘I MY EDUCATION’ A Few Words on the Data Analysis

We have now coded the data under a number of categories coving academic issues, organisational issues an d other facilities and activities at the University of Brighton. We collected data from 1126 students and often each ‘Keep’, ‘Stop’ and ‘Start’ comment box had multiple comments addressing a number of areas of concern, delight and suggested improvements. Comments ranged from brief and specific to long and detailed and we would like to thank all students that took part for the consideration put into the responses given. This research now forms a rich database of student opinion across the university and will be a valuable source of input for not only the upcoming institutional review but also decision making process at the university. A detailed discourse analysis of the comments will be available soon with a school by school breakdown. Keep an eye on the new research area on the Students’ Union website for updates! http://www.ubsu.net/research

What have you said? Most of your comments have been about Teaching and Learning, with a large amount indicating a positive experience. However, there are also a large amount of statements on what needs to stop and what you would like to see start. Following this are your comments on learning resources where you speak positively about the resources but would like to see better access at weekends. Under the category of organisation you would like to see better communication of room and timetable chances but feel that the information you receive on university events is good. Positive comments in this category were around the cash machine and exhibition space at Grand Parade and the negative comments around the card activated doors. While you enjoy the catering there are concerns over costs. You would also like to see a new students’ union bar in place and more SU events.

Overview

Teaching and Learning Much like the rest of the University the majority of comments from Students at the School of Architecture and Design were about Teaching and Learning. Feedback on teaching and learning was extensive with over 40% of students providing commentary on Keep, over 20% on Stop and 20% on Start. The standard or tutors and the positive student/tutor relationship was commented on positively and the lack of formal examinations. There were also positive comments on the use of guest lecturers and industry knowledge. There were a smaller number of more negative comments focused on lectures that were uninspiring, lack of clear guidance on assignments and large class sizes. An increase in contact hours was the most popular comment for what the university should start doing.

Learning Resources The second largest area of commentary was on learning resources. The positive comments were around workshops and media centres that were well equipped and that opened for longer hours during busy times. Some students felt that the lack of facilities open at weekends and early closure in the evenings (limited workshop and library access) were an

issue. Also they felt that the material fees they had to pay at the start of the year were not necessarily fair and would prefer to buy materials as they went through the year so they money was spent on what they would definitely use. Students commented that they would like to have access to facilities in other areas of the arts in the university (i.e. dark room). Other requests for improvement centred on longer opening hours, greater informal study space/studio space and more technicians for workshop spaces.

Some more detail...

Organisation

Organisation comments, much like in the rest of the university, mirrored prior feedback from the National Student Survey and were largely negative with over a quarter of students commenting on what they would like the university to top. The criticisms for this were around poorly structured timetables, last minute changes that were not well communicated and students having to come in for a short period of time.

Other Facilities Positive comments in this category were around the cash machine and exhibition space at Grand Parade and the negative comments around the card activated doors (also Grand Parade). Start comments focus on putting in place a cash machine at Mithras house, increased opening hours for Reprographics and increasing photocopying facilities.

Catering At Grand Parade Campus the positive comments focussed on the high stand of food served in the canteen and the knowledge that the canteen uses locally sourced food. Criticisms about catering all focussed on the cost of food on both campuses. Suggestions for improvements centre on having a greater variety of food and allowing students to use a microwave to heat their own food.

Students’ Union

The positive comments from students focus on the SU shops and their friendly and helpful staff and support given on the occupation at Grand Parade last year. There is significant desire for a Students’ Union bar and increased promotion of events.

What Happens next with the Engagement Week Data This data is already being used in the university to inform de-cisions that they will be making to improve the student ex-perience. Reports from the data will be fed into university committees and any changes made as a result of your com-ments will be fed straight back via course reps and the Stu-dents’ Union website. The data will also be feeding into the Student Written Submission which we are due to submit to the QAA as part of the Institutional Review in November 2012. The first draft of this document will

be available late June for you to pass com-ment on. We will be passing reports to school reps and course reps to ensure they have evi-dence to help them make changes in their own areas. If you would like any further information please don’t hesitate to get in touch: h.mcknight@brighton.ac.uk

support students through student services

keeping workshops open late

inspiring teachers

the societies exhibitions

Studying and designing

Keeping the building warm Staying open till 9

Listening to student feedback i.e. laser cutting... Next on the list could be printing perhaps? 24hr access?

meet artists/ talks - exhibition

Great helpful friendly staff (security and cafe and shops)

open the workshop till late nice food in the canteen

great tutors and yarn supply

supporting students in protests / occupations having such friendly/ helpful staff in the student services/ union/ shop

keep the shop open recycling class trips (Milan)

workshops in different areas

serving excellent food! nice building and great studio space to work in!

good campus shop

good tutors/ lectures

Bagels - they are amazing!

Giving sessions and information about everyday university situations and problems

more professional lecturers and improve the facilities of workshops

keep the technicians

cash machine

Purchasing new technology and equipment like laser cutter etc

Individual tutorials to talk over ideas with tutor

Design knowledge from tutors interaction with students

enough facilities in the class room technicians in room everyday for help nice hot food in the canteen

Organising external lectures for practice lectures Giving detail descriptions of what needs to be done to till brief

providing well equipped workshops with a positive atmosphere tasty food in the canteen cash point

good crits

Library, great place with great books printing in the library, long opening hours cafe in the school, great place to have a chat or rest uni shops, food, drink stationary - all I need

Making use of the library easy, accessible. Extending pool room hours during busy times of term

tutorials all maces should have photo shop

cash point on site - very convenient yummy canteen food great student services

Mineral water (free drinking water)

good fund-raising - cake sales

good student/ tutor relationships regular feedback compared to prior years student organised events. e.g.. back sales etc

feedback from tutors

The teaching/ lack of exams

teach in a creative way to challenge us to visit exhibitions and the library I have good sources of information in the library to provide us GP health care (NHS) to provide support for international students

good canteen food at grand parade good student teacher relationships

good art supply shop

good teaching - very informal open approach with teachers on the course good shop, facilities on campus

tutorials and feedback

having the Mac suite maybe more with Photoshop

Food co-op

student central cash machine

guest lecture

tutor time I always feel in touch with my tutors / course really interesting historical critical studies lectures

technical tutorials keeping up to date on student central

Allow card to buy food provide plastic cups in the Architecture floor, 3rd floor of Mithras

Keep Comments

cash machine in GP is great keep doing veg boxes

organise events

The IT guy is cute Johnny's cute but mean

employing a high standard of tutors

good campus shop good hot food

shop open at good hours recycling keep students informed on help they can get with studies

cash machine at GP

24 hours library opening times vegetarian lentil lasagne friendly staff

tutorials, going to the library

societies drinks machine

recycling and energy conservation local and seasonal food suppliers to canteen

local suppliers to canteen

good tutors

maces and Photoshop

good knowledge good resources good shops prices

pushing us to do lots of work - giving us a good work ethic

cash machine exhibitions at front long hours in media centre

keep up media centre, with loaning of equipment etc degree show - always amazing tutors - always available, via email - good constructive feedback lunch time reduced

Tutors keep open minded and are really helpful the facilities stayed so good using student central

transport

promotional seminars with aspirational entrepreneurs HCS lectures

In 5 days a week

Language course for international students

good contact with tutors and feedback

Keep Comments

Stop Comments

stop making so unorganized academic schedules - technical staff should stop treating students so unfairly

£180 material fees when we do not use many materials on design

making us come in for 4 minutes

photocopy cards - expensive

be so pushing

Charging so much for coffees. Syrups should be complimentary.

Materials fee at start of year

Closing the computer room so early on a weekend Being closed completely on a Sunday

always changing timetable

organising facilities open hours to be shorter material fees - people should choose what they definitely want to use

over pricing the uni shop making bad food especially vegetarian over priced not having enough technicians/ technical support workshops are messy and dangerous learning is stifled by the lack of teaching support

I think general accommodation rules for 1st years is unfair -if you live on the other side of the country or even abroad it makes it very difficult to be told you have to find a house in a town you don't really know (especially with 1 month notice) I know Brighton's a popular town but there should be more uni accommodation to support this! keep the finance office open all week

sometimes no room to work so go home to do it in cramped house

giving such boring and uninspiring lectures

card activated doors

more individual tutorials

closing early

Shutting the library, it should be open 24 hours

overworking the technicians

Stop hand-ins on Thursdays because on Wednesdays everything in the university is closed e.g. reprographics

having so many problems running alongside each other

cold food in the canteen highly priced lectures in small classroom and different campuses

changing lecture times at the last minute

stop closing the printer room so early (3:00pm)

making us do the professional practice module or otherwise get the tutors speaking advice and completely re-address the reasons for doing the module

making us come in for 5 mins

not allowing students to print in Mithras before pick up

receiving information from the tutors on student central can be problematic at times

teachers lateness

closing workshops Wednesday afternoon professional practise - or at least improve it! having so many locked doors

being disorganised with times etc for sessions

charging in the canteen expensive printing photocopying student fees on placement and material fees

disorganised - unclear briefs

cold studio

closing the printing room so early before reviews

need to improve student central definitely look at Uni of Sussex as an example, it needs to be cleaner , easier to use..

maybe smaller classes?

closing too early on the nights

closing the workshops Wednesday afternoon

having a larger year group for fashion in future years stop throwing away food! it could be given to people in meetings, students staying late or sold at a reduced price!

only pass or fail 1st year feel haven't learnt much about the business world yet

conflicting teachers opinions - they need to communicate with one another

expensive printing

Making the University experience less expensive make classes closer

stop wasting food/ throwing away excess food - students will eat it

improve facilities

course is so disorganised I hate it

taking too many students for fashion course currently a first year of 40 compared to a second year of 20 and a final year of 15 - there aren't enough resources for 3 years of 40 students

card activated doors

making students pay for the laser cutter closing the finance office

I am happy with the Uni

closing university so early

more with Photoshop photocopy cards

photocopy cards

having the heating on when it's warm outside throwing away food - canteen, sandwiches out of date making it difficult to organise events at the university renting out rooms and hosting events in uni building - bureaucracy!! £10 for a new student card?? not fair!! Why? Where does the money go??

throwing away food in the canteen at the end of the day charging £10 for replacement uni card

being expensive to drink

close too early library should stay open for longer

being late to our tutorials if late we get bad feedback

making us buy materials when we spend so much on education anyway

closing the workshops for maintenance in the week

workshop times - closing at 5.30pm isn't late enough

no has lectures (I find them pointless)

photocopy card

giving projects like Slax and Nano that are quite unrelated to course but are geared towards gaining funding

disorganised running of lessons and students to be confused by what they are expected to do

Stop Comments

open more student jobs on campus

access to other facilities within the faculty of arts e.g. dark room

actually giving us a space to work if we need it

an area to work with tables and chairs not in the studio but private study space in the computer room photocopi-ers in the uni - not just the library

be happy about studying

Cash machine in Mithras house. Keep reprographics on the 3rd floor open for longer- possibly pay them for over time so they are around when it's busy.

Communicate with each other. Disorganisation is the main drawback.

cross crits through different courses

Extend weekend opening hours of computer rooms and library at GP - open on a Sunday

fixing the machines charge the minimum for design kit

fund fashion show open facilities for longer hours

get more technicians support staff in their problems, not just tell them to get on with it - their concerns are very real problems

get more technician support in workshops (the technicians are seriously overworked) art and design subjects more cross over between art and design subjects - if we could share equipment easily that would be very beneficial (diff departments seem opposed to the idea?)

give us room within the uni to do independent work/ design (like textiles)

giving better lectures on topics that relate to our courses and involve introduction

giving us more calico

good healing cash machine at Mithras house

have a common room, sofa chill out area more studio space student union bar

have a university run cafe - student microwaves

Having more gatherings for the university giving students more of a chance to meet new people

helping more international students to improve their English and make friends with them

hire more technicians

keep a photocopier in the computer suite

keep studies and university facilities open overnight put cash machine on Mithras keep reprographic facilities open for longer (after 5pm)

keep the workshops open later at night own space to work on sketch book

less pressure and contact reviews more regular

longer opening times for workshops and classrooms colour photocopier in the campus change minimum limit for using Design A Knit programme

longer opening times for workshops and reprographics

longer printer room opening times

make it easier to contact tutors, they rarely email back if ever

making more studio space

Mithras house needs to have printing room for architecture students I think... opening hours are poor and there is always a queue Medical centre is so complicated when you have a problem and need to solve it quickly architec-ture course might be more organised

more bread rolls in the canteen

more business lectures more sewing machines

more feedback from tutors letting students do cake sales as it's yummy opening up extension studies to allow more people to get first choices

More food variety (British food, Indian, Japanese..) Cheaper food price - the price of the food in the canteen is too expensive More cash machines - it is very troublesome to go from Mithras to Cockcroft to withdraw cash espe-cially in the winter when the canteen does not accept cards

more info about SU events or more events to get more students more involved more info about clubs etc

more machines larger studio hours available ict open later more copiers!

more maces in library

more open plan studios Mithras cash machine!

more organised timetable to put on the central heating in the afternoon change setting of air conditioning (too cold air)

Start Comments

more organised trips with courses, visit exhibitions, museums etc. make for a better experience, I would pay for those things in my course!

more space healthier food

more sports facilities for people at GP

more structured timetable no so much 'self directed' study

more studio space for us union bars

more technicians in the workshop please

more techniques on the course to help more tutor time

more theories and teaching

more trips meet designers speaking to course makers once a week perspective of each others work

more tutor time longer sewing room hours

on fashion we need more tutor time and the sewing room to be open past 5.30 stocking a bigger variety of drinks in the uni shop like Rubicon microwaves

organise events more frequently

organising

paying for technicians to keep fashion studios longer in evenings

provide more material

put traffic lights outside of Varley Halls entrance more technical support communication between campuses and staff to students made easier

recycling (no recycling bins anywhere)

serving dinner at grand parade

space to work in the university - big studio space for all student union bar

sports or classes at GP drinks in the cafe in the evening

St Peters library needs to be open longer! better/ more clear recycling facilities - coffee cups and lids! better art materials in SU shop - cheaper and better range SU Bar - maybe the Blind tiger arrangement?

sty peters library open longer esp. at weekends us shop - better range of materials Su bar

student union improvement

studio space for fashion student union bar

SU Bar place for students to go more photocopiers

supply us with materials under what we pay for each year already

taking our considerations and views into account

taking what we say into account - cash machine is the only exception

training technicians in everything before they start working

transport bus to and from Falmer union bar chill area ping pong table

uni facing all areas of the course so that the students get the most out of the possible over the 4 years to complete each module unit

university should be open later feedback assessments more constructive about improvements

voluntary and non voluntary work related to the students field of study in order to improve their skills in future job

Wi-Fi in public areas open the library longer at the weekend

Start Comments