The NSS results are a valuable resource for course reps. The results are held in high regard by educational institutions as they allow prospective students to make comparisons between different courses.
The fact that NSS results are respected means that departments are more likely to listen to Course Reps that use them. Course Reps can do their job more effectively by having hard evidence to support their representative role.
Here are some strengths of the NSS - these can be used as further reasons why the department should consider the results and shows why course reps should also use them:
- The NSS is objective and anonymous- this means that students can be completely honest without fear of any comeback from the department;
- the NSS asks questions on a range of topics, from IT provisions to the suitability of teaching methods. The NSS can be used for a range of different issues that students may bring up with their course reps;
- results from the NSS results can be used to monitor development in the department;
- results from one department can be compared with another institution- this provides a relative measure of the progress of the department.
As a Course Rep myself I’m very lucky in that my department actively uses the NSS results in staff-student committees to discuss what improvements can be made to the student experience. For example, it was clear from last year’s results that assessment feedback was a weak spot.
Following discussions in a staff-student committee it was decided that a focus-group would be set-up that would directly question a cross-section of students on what sort of feedback they wanted and what ways the department could improve the communication of this to students. This shows that departments do use the NSS to indicate where improvements should be made. If course reps are also given access to this information they’ll be better informed on the weakness in their department.
Unions have independent access to the NSS - this means that they are not reliant on their institutions for results and so can factor the NSS into their own campaigns. By letting Course Reps have access to the results they can have evidence to support the issues that are affecting the students they represent.
Further information:
Aslom Ullah gives his feedback in the importance of being honest
Find out more about how to use the NSS.
Want to submit an article about being a Course Rep? Email us at coursereps@nus.org.uk