Over the last 6 years, 232,450 students have completed StudentSurvey.ie, each answering over 60 questions about their experiences of higher education. The StudentSurvey.ie Trends Over Time Research 20216-2021 website presents some of the data from 2016 to 2021 in an accessible and interactive format.
Click here to access this rich and accessible research.
The website is divided into 4 key topics:
Case studies from higher education institutions,
Results over time,
International data and
Key messages.
Case studies from higher education institutions
Within institutions enhancements are being made as a result of StudentSurvey.ie, and staff and students are best placed to measure and understand the impact of those enhancements through interrogation of their institutional data because of their understanding of the local context. This research includes case studies from institutions highlighting how they have used StudentSurvey.ie and PGR StudentSurvey.ie to effect change. It is hoped that this body of case studies will continue to grow in order to provide examples and effective practices to support others who are looking to make the most of the valuable dataset StudentSurvey.ie has created.
Results over time
The results presented in the StudentSurvey.ie Trends Over Time Research 2016-2021 originate from six years of student feedback gathered by StudentSurvey.ie (the Irish Survey of Student Engagement; Suirbhé na hÉireann ar Rannpháirtíocht na Mac Léinn). Offering the same questions each year during this six year period allows us to present national results to understand and explore any changes in students’ perceptions of their experiences and engagement with their higher education institutions. Meaningful change does not happen quickly, and it best happens when based on the results of multiple years of data.
International data
This research concludes with the contextualisation of StudentSurvey.ie results in Ireland against 10 other countries. Readers may find these analyses of interest and they may spark further research.
Key messages
The final part of the research is the presentation of the Key Messages. Click HERE to download these Key Messages as a readable, shareable, printable PDF.
Goal of the research
This addition to the student engagement discourse in Ireland will stimulate discussion about the trajectory of student engagement developments and their impact over time, as well as provide participating institutions with inspiration and direction for their own analyses and actions.
Links with other publications
An important publication was launched in late February 2022. The Special Issue of the All Ireland Journal of Higher Education (AISHE), entitled Student Engagement and Partnership in Irish Higher Education, brought together an impressive collection of editorials, articles, reflections, journeys, case studies and rapid responses. This Special Issue was co-edited by NStEP and AISHE.
The Special Issue featured an editorial by the StudentSurvey.ie Steering Group (Nic Fhlannchadha, Hackett... Trench Bowles, 2022). The StudentSurvey.ie Steering Group members were proud to feature in this important publication and congratulate all of those involved.
The Special Issue also featured an invited article entitled The Results of the StudentSurvey.ie Trends Over Time Research 2016-2021 (Nic Fhlannchadha, 2022). This represented the first publication of some of the results included in the present research. The StudentSurvey.ie management will continue to share these results in all available fora, including with individual higher education institutions, at national events and at international conferences. If you are hosting an event or meeting, and would like to include the StudentSurvey.ie Trends Over Time Research 2016-2021 in any way, please contact siobhan@studentsurvey.ie.
Buíochas
This project was led by the StudentSurvey.ie Analysis and Impact Group, in particular the Editorial Group for the Trends Over Time Research. The Steering Group and Communications Group were also instrumental to the completion of this project. Sincere thanks are expressed to the members of these groups.
Do you have questions?
Explore the site here to see the depth of the valuable dataset created by StudentSurvey.ie.
Contact the StudentSurvey.ie Project Manager at info@studentsurvey.ie or using any of the social media channels listed here if you have any questions or comments.
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