PRES 2013

PRES 2013 ran from 5 March 2013-16 May 2013.  The response rate was 57% (n=1088) of the PGR population, compared with 38% in 2012, 23% in 2011 and 36% in 2009.  The national response rate was 42%. The next Survey will run in early 2015.

Overall Satisfaction and University KPI

The University’s strategic plan sets a target of 90% for overall satisfaction for Postgraduate Research Students.  This was based on question 15g in previous surveys, which asks researchers to rate whether their overall experience has met their expectations (selecting from -3 to +3).  In 2012, 87% of researchers selected between 0 to 3 (i.e. saying that it met or exceeded expectations).

For PRES 2013, the PRES questionnaire was updated by the Higher Education Academy and this question, relating to expectations, was removed.  The overall key performance indicator for PGR satisfaction will therefore relate to question 17a, below (as agreed with the VP (Strategy and Resources, on review of the updated question set):

  1. Overall, I am satisfied with the experience of my research degree programme

83.9% of 2013 respondents agreed or strongly agreed with this statement, compared with 82.4% in the Russell Group.  Although this figure is lower than for the previous question, it should be noted that for the 2013 question two out of a possible five points on the scale are being used as a measure of satisfaction.  In previous years, four out of a possible seven points were being used as an indication of satisfaction.

On consideration of each of the key survey areas, it can be seen that levels of satisfaction have improved in each of the four Graduate Schools.

Overall satisfaction by Graduate Schools for the 2013 survey (Q17a.) is:

Arts: 84.1%

Science and Engineering: 82.4%

Social Sciences: 81.2%

MVLS:  86.7%

 

Further Results and Actions Plans: PRES 2013