For decades student feedback has helped lecturers reflect on and improve their courses (subjects).
Beyond that, simply providing opportunities for regular feedback demonstrates that teachers value the input of their students and want to improve the student experience. In addition to course feedback, in Australia we are fortunate to have university level national data provided through the Quality Indicators in Learning and Teaching (QILT) team run by the Social Research Centre.
QILT Student Experience Surveys and the Graduate Outcome Surveys consistently demonstrate that there is a lot to celebrate – and also draw attention to issues that need fixing. The data doesn’t pack the same punch as research data, global league tables and university rankings, and nor do we need more comparisons like that. But each year the student feedback data and institutional responses nudge us forward.
They only nudge though, because the numerical data isn’t that precise or powerful. At an institutional level, the variations from year-to-year can be tiny, and the sector itself is fairly stable. On top of that, the random release dates mean that one cannot really plan and act within a budget cycle.
But there is reason to hope that we can make much more use of this data and can improve the student experience and our universities even more in the age of AI.
We can move from analysing the high level averages to breaking down the data and looking at specific cohorts and discipline areas in more detail. Most excitingly we should be able to analyse the student comments more productively.
I have read many student comments. They are a rich source of information. Nearly every comment is thoughtful and reasonable. But the sheer number of comments is overwhelming. With AI we will be able to handle the volume and target responses to these key areas.
UNSW believes we can all benefit from taking student feedback seriously and showcasing the fact that we value the student voice. That is why we are hosting the first QILT Symposium, followed by the NSW Higher Education Summit this week at UNSW.
We have Ben Rimmer, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education giving the opening address, Lisa Bolton who leads QILT, Richard O’Donovan (Monash), who has published on the positives of student surveys, Kris Ryan (UQ) who is an expert on analysing the data, and we’ll also be hearing from students, facilitated by UNSW’s Natalie Nickson.
Professor Merlin Crossley is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality) at UNSW
Belonging and wellbeing key for students
The 2025 NSW HE Summit will be themed on Belonging and Wellbeing, complementing the QILT Symposium on Day 1. Keynote speakers Chi Baik (UMelb), Sarah Bendall (NSO) and panelists Julie Hulme (Nottingham Trent University), Belle Lim (Future Forte & Mind Tribes), Sarah O’Shea (CSU), Aidan Tharmarajah (UNSW) and Gary Velan (UNSW) will share insights and perspectives as thought leaders on this theme.
Tickets and further information: QILT Symposium & NSW Higher Education Summit