Educom enjoys high student approval scores

The University of East London’s School of Education and Communities has seen some significant achievements in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS), a nationwide poll capturing students’ reflections on their education.

The survey results highlight an impressive surge in student satisfaction across various metrics, showcasing the school’s commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience.

Overall Improvements 

The School of Education and Communities has seen a notable rise in positivity, with seven out of eight metrics showing improvements from last year. Among these metrics, Organisation and Management experienced a substantial increase of 9.3 percentage points, reaching 79.9 per cent. This achievement underscores the school’s dedication to enhancing the administrative and structural aspects of the student experience.

The metric for Learning Opportunities saw a significant rise of 4.3 percentage points, achieving an impressive 89.9 per cent. This accomplishment reflects the high-quality educational experiences offered to students. 

The Social Work course witnessed dramatic improvements, with the overall satisfaction rate soaring by 14.3 percentage points to 90 per cent. Students expressed a deep appreciation for Academic Support, which saw a remarkable increase of 27.8 percentage points, reaching 82 per cent. Learning Opportunities for Social Work also rose by an impressive 19.6 percentage points to 95.2 per cent, the highest in London. Furthermore, Wellbeing Support for the course was rated the best in the city, highlighting the University's commitment to student welfare. 

The Primary Education with QTS course achieved exceptional results, with Academic Support rising 6.0 percentage points from last year's 94 per cent to a perfect 100 per cent. Additionally, the course received a 93 per cent approval rating for Assessment and Feedback, marking an 8.45 percentage point increase. 

The new online Education Studies course made a remarkable debut, receiving a 94.6 per cent approval rating for Teaching on my Course and an outstanding 98.5 per cent positive rating for Assessment and Feedback in its first assessment. 

The Childhood and Youth course was rated the highest in London, and the Sociology course was recognised as the best among London’s modern universities, as voted by its students. 

The results come just weeks after the School received top ratings in its most recent Ofsted inspection.

The primary and further education provision was graded as "Outstanding," while the secondary age provision was graded as "Good”.

Dean of the School, Mr Richard Harty said, “These exceptional results in the NSS demonstrate our unwavering commitment to providing outstanding educational experiences and support for its students.

“Together with our outstanding Ofsted verdict, the school’s continuous efforts to improve and innovate have clearly paid off, making it a leading institution for education in London and beyond.

We are immensely proud of our staff and students for their hard work and dedication, and we look forward to continuing this journey of excellence.” 

UEL as a whole has received groundbreaking results in the NSS, achieving historic milestones and solidifying its position as the student-ready, careers-first university of the future.

Across key areas of provision, the University demonstrates some of the highest levels of positivity against all categories of the NSS.

Highlights include being placed 3rd nationally for Overall Positivity and top in London for Learning Opportunities.

Key highlights:

• Overall Positivity: UEL has soared from 13th to 3rd place nationally out of 139 HEIs, boasting a remarkable surge in overall graduating students’ positivity.
• Teaching on my Course: Satisfaction has increased with teaching quality rising 20 places to 9th place nationally and contributing to UEL’s top spot in London.
• Learning Opportunities: Satisfaction with offering learning opportunities has risen ten places to 4th nationally, and ranking first in London, reflecting UEL’s investment in state-of-the-art facilities and resources that are pivotal in supporting student success.
• Assessment and Feedback: UEL has climbed to 7th place nationally, and second against London universities, highlighting our focus on providing constructive feedback to students.

· Academic Support: UEL’s academic support services have also received positive ratings, rising five percentage points from last year and propelling the University 40 places higher nationally.

The NSS is an annual survey of nearly 350,000 students across the UK, managed by the Office for Students. The survey is one of the largest of its kind in the world, asking students across the UK about a range of factors, including their academic experience, teaching and assessments, and institutions’ mental wellbeing services. Some 76 per cent of UEL’s students participated in this year’s survey, which is four per cent above the national average.