In 2022, 42,852 first year undergraduate students, final year undergraduate students and students on taught postgraduate programmes took part in StudentSurvey.ie (the Irish Survey of Student Engagement; Suirbhé na hÉireann ar Rannpháirtíocht na Mac Léinn) that ran in 25 higher education institutions in February and March.
Access the StudentSurvey.ie National Report 2022
We have adopted a digital first approach to this year’s report. Hard copies of the full report will not be printed. All participating institutions will receive a small number of printed executive summaries for internal distribution.
Download the StudentSurvey.ie National Report 2022 Executive Summary
StudentSurvey.ie National Reports 2022 Results Pullout
StudentSurvey.ie Tuairisc Náisiúnta 2022 Torthaí
StudentSurvey.ie National Reports 2022 Results Pullout - Editable Version
StudentSurvey.ie Tuairisc Náisiúnta 2022 Torthaí - Leagan Ineagarthóireachta
Téigh i dteagmháil le info@studentsurvey.ie le leagan ineagarthóireachta do StudentSurvey.ie Tuairisc Náisiúnta 2022 Torthaí a fháil.
More than one in three students have seriously considered withdrawing from their course
For the first time, the 2022 survey introduced a question on student withdrawal as a standard question for all respondents: “Have you ever seriously considered withdrawing from your degree programme?”
The data show that more than one in three (36.6%) have seriously considered withdrawing. In 2019-2020, the non-progression rate from first year undergraduate to second year undergraduate reported by the Higher Education Authority was 9% (HEA, 2022; read more here). In the StudentSurvey.ie data, more than one in three first year undergraduate students have seriously considered withdrawing (35.0%). This suggests that although 9% of students do not progress with their studies from first year to second year, a much larger proportion of students have seriously considered withdrawing.
In the StudentSurvey.ie data, the proportion of students that have seriously considered withdrawing is particularly high for final year undergraduate respondents, where more than two in five have indicated that they had considered withdrawing from their programme (44.7%). For first year undergraduate respondents, this is 35.0%, and for taught postgraduate respondents, only 28.8% indicated that they had considered withdrawing from their programme. Reasons given for considering withdrawal included:
- Personal or family reasons (13.3%)
- Financial reasons (9.8%)
- Transfer to another institution (8.5%)
- Another reason (8.3%)
- Health reasons (6.4%)
- Employment (5.3%)
First year undergraduate student experience has not entirely reverted to pre-pandemic levels, but data show a significant improvement over 2021 results
Last year’s report demonstrated clearly that the student experience was affected by the necessitated changes to the traditional on-campus higher education mode. We saw significant impact on scores for Collaborative Learning, Student-Faculty Interaction, Quality of Interactions, and Supportive Environment. This year’s data show that the first-year undergraduate student experience (as demonstrated by the nine indicator scores) has not entirely reverted to pre-COVID levels. Nonetheless, a significant improvement is evident, particularly amongst those indicator scores that were initially most impacted by COVID-19 in 2021.Photograph of Varnika Bagai (NCI), Jennifer Treadwell (NCI), USI VP for Academic Affairs Clodagh McGivern & Lorcan Mills (NCI) launching the National Report
Other key findings in this year’s report
57.7% of students believed that their institution emphasised providing support to help students succeed academically.
52.6% of students worked with other students on projects or assignments.
73.6% of students believed that their experience at their institution contributed to their knowledge, skills, and personal development in thinking critically and analytically
45.6% of students connected their learning to problems or issues in society.
63% of students learned something that changed the way they understand an issue or concept.
67.4% of students believed that lecturers/ teaching staff used examples or illustrations to explain difficult points.
83.5% of students, if they could start over again, would probably/ definitely go to the same institution they are now attending
The StudentSurvey.ie National Report 2022 Launch
The StudentSurvey.ie National Report 2022 will be launched at the QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) 10th anniversary conference on Tuesday 18th October 2022 in the Croke Park Conference Centre by Professor Peter Felten and USI VP for Academic Affairs Clodagh McGivern.
What is StudentSurvey.ie?
StudentSurvey.ie asks students directly about their experiences of higher education. StudentSurvey.ie runs annually. Student feedback provides institutions with valuable information to identify good practice that enhances the experiences of students and to prompt awareness of, and action on, any particular issues or challenges that affect students. The results of the surveys are intended to bring benefits to students and their institutions, and to inform national policy. StudentSurvey.ie is co-sponsored by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the students who completed the survey, everyone who works on StudentSurvey.ie and PGR StudentSurvey.ie, and in particular the National Report Editorial Group 2022.
Photo credit for all photographs: Jason Clarke
