There is a whole host of staff members responsible for surveying students on a whole host of topics. Asking students for feedback is an essential part of institutional workflows each year, not least because of the accountability demanded by external national surveys used for quality assessment. But knowing when and how to survey students is more complicated than it looks and surveys are deployed for a wider range of purposes. 

Advancements in survey technology and data analytics have facilitated the increasing popularity of pre-arrival questionnaires. Likewise, module or cohort pulse surveys can indicate which students may be at risk, and make it possible to adapt provision to meet needs in a more “real time” manner. Plus, developing survey practice that actively engages students and ensures individuals feel listened to is essential. In this session we’ll unpick what we need to do to achieve these ends and how we can ensure there is strategic coordination, and embedding surveys across learning, teaching and the student life cycle.