The undergraduate programme in Social and Public Policy (SPP), based within Urban Studies, has ranked top in the UK in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2019.  The programme achieved 100% overall student satisfaction - 10% up from last year - and climbed from 14th position to number one in the national ranking in Social Policy.

The programme achieved 100% in two categories in teaching quality and >90% satisfaction in another eight categories, including five categories with a score of over 95%. 65% of students reported 'very satisfied' (up from 28% in 2018) in overall student satisfaction.

Undergraduate Convenor in Urban Studies, Dr Mark Wong, said: "This tremendous achievement is a strong testament of the quality of teaching by the whole SPP team - including all teaching, administration and student support staff, and graduate teaching assistants - that was delivered and enjoyed by students in our programme. As the programme director, I’m delighted to see significant improvements in many areas in our NSS results this year, which we worked really hard to achieve.

"May I also take this opportunity to thank the students (and now graduates) for their active engagement in not only the NSS exercise but also the SPP programme overall. It is so encouraging and rewarding to hear our efforts on improving the student and learning experience made a real difference and were appreciated and enjoyed by our students."

The programme also leaped from 44% to 74% in satisfaction in the staff and student community. This was an action that the team picked up from last year's NSS feedback and new initiatives were introduced this year to improve the student experience and sense of community, e.g. welcome events and engagements, and outreach via social media.

There were efforts to improve the advice provided to students in course choices; a score of 79% satisfaction in this area was achieved this year, up from 54%. For feedback, the team have seen scores going up across the board in various aspects of feedback, with results ranging from 73% to 93% - an improvement from 54-74% last year.

The success follows on from the Subject, Urban Studies, ranking joint 1st in the UK in the REF 2014 results for Architecture, Built Environment and Planning. 

Head of Subject, Professor Sharon Wright, said: "I am absolutely delighted at such outstanding student satisfaction. The undergraduate Social and Public Policy team have put immense effort and enthusiasm into engaging students with cutting edge policy topics, critical theory and teaching innovations. It is fantastic to see their care and attention to students recognised. It is pretty special for Urban Studies to hold top teaching and research rankings at the same time."

 

 

First published: 26 July 2019

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