The Results of the StudentSurvey.ie Trends Over Time Research, 2016-2021.

Abstract

Development and implementation of StudentSurvey.ie is driven by the intention to inform, support, and encourage enhancement discussions and activities throughout institutions, and to inform national policy. Nearly 235,000 first and final year undergraduate and taught postgraduate students responded to StudentSurvey.ie between 2016 and 2021. Over this time the national response rate increased to 31%. Part one of the results features six years of student feedback, from 2016 to 2021, using the same set of questions. The use of the same questions every year allows for comparison across the six years to explore change, if any, in students’ perception of their experience and engagement with their institution. Part two of the results draws on international results to consider how the results of StudentSurvey.ie from 2016 to 2019 compare with results on the same questions in a broad range of international contexts, including Australia , Chile, China, South Korea, South Africa, UK and the USA and Canada. The unprecedented change brought about by the COVID-19 global crisis cannot be overlooked. Feedback from a national survey over a number of years has enduring value in understanding the experience of students in higher education in Ireland and brings student voices to the heart of national policy and decision-making in Irish higher education.