Introduction
It is the intention of the Students’ Union to produce an annual statement following the student
submission to QAA. This is the first of these statements and therefore directly reflects on the key
findings in the 2013/14 QAA Student Submission.
These annual statements will be drawn together from student feedback on learning and teaching
and the student experience. Using the rep structure as the main source of feedback will allow the
report to be representative across the range of University campuses, courses and levels.
As well as directly reflecting on the previous submission this report will outline developments with
the University and SU over the 2014/15 academic year and any project or issues running into the
next.
Updates since Student Submission to QAA
Student Experience Strategy
A significant development this year has been the creation of a Student Experience Strategy. The
Students’ Union has worked closely do develop this strategy which looks at the student experience
outside of learning and teaching. The SU has both joint and sole responsibility for several actions
within the strategy and will continue to work closely with the University to reach its aims.
The sections of the strategy were largely determined by student feedback from a series of focus
groups, surveys and partner visits conducted by the Students’ Union. The resulting three aims were:
 Embed a student-centred approach to service delivery
 Strengthen partnership working with students
 Enhance the physical, social, cultural and recreational environment
All objectives sit within these aims and all with the opportunity for student input through students,
reps, the SU or a combination.
Student Representation
To reflect the developments within the University, the Students’ Union created a new post; Director
of Student Engagement. This role has oversight of the Students’ Union strategic working around
Student Experience and Engagement working closely with the University on the Student Experience
Strategy. Another key responsibility for this position is to manage the student representation
structure alongside the Vice President, ensuring students influence the strategic planning of both the
SU and University.
The representation structure continues to grow in strength responding to feedback and
developments. During the 2014/15 academic year each school was represented by a School Rep,
Lead Reps and Course Reps. The lead rep structure developed to reflect the structure of each school
and in some cases included the addition of a Post Graduate Rep, this is something the Students’
Union plans to roll out to all schools in 2015/16.
Having reviewed student engagement alongside the NSS scores from 2014, the Students’ Union
decided to invest more resources into the School of Management. This meant taking on an
additional rep alongside the School Rep, their role has been to encourage more students to engage
with the representation structure therefore making it more effective. The SU’s engagement with
both staff and students within the school has developed throughout the year with more partnership
working with the student voice playing a vital part. This has also been reflected in the NSS scores
where many courses within the school saw improvements, whilst there is still work to be done this is
a very positive development.
Personal Tutoring project
As part of the Student Submission to QAA it was noted that a team of Post Graduate Interns had
been appointed to carry out a HEFCW funded research project on the Personal Tutoring provision at
Cardiff Met. Having now been completed this research concluded that provision of Personal Tutoring
varied from school to school and that there was a need for training for personal tutors.
The Students’ Union has since begun to work more closely with schools to build relationships with
Personal Tutors so that cross referral may occur more effectively and to ensure student satisfaction
with the services.
NSS 2015
NSS 2015 results show that the University dropped 3% for overall satisfaction to 83% whilst the
Students’ Union remained at 67%.
As previously mentioned the School of Management results for 2014 had prompted the Students’
Union to add additional resource within the school. As a result of this and steps taken by the school
itself, student satisfaction has increased in 2015. In a similar manner the School of Art and Design
have dropped in satisfaction this year for both the University and SU and therefore the Students’
Union will look to invest extra resources into their rep structure.
At the start of the next academic year the Students’ Union will work closely with the university to
follow up with current students on the results and areas highlighted by their peers. From this we will
work in partnership to respond to the student feedback improving student experience and
satisfaction.
Key findings table
Key Finding in QAA Student Submission
Complaints and Appeals. Lack of student
awareness and understanding of University
procedures.
Personal Tutors. Inconsistent support offered
by personal tutors across the University and on
a local scale.
Update
SU Development and dissemination of Step by
Step guides in partnership with the University.
The Students’ Union now also has an
established Academic Caseworker to support
individual students through the procedures.
Awareness of this role is improving with more
students taking up the support on offer.
HEFCW funded team of interns investigated
Personal Tutor provision and produced a final
report detailing that acknowledged provision
varied per school to suit the students.
Following this a full time member of the SU
team has worked to build closer relationships
with each schools PT service. A system of cross
referral has been created with a greater
awareness on both sides of services available.
Assessment Feedback. Students happy with
improvements made overall to feedback and
examples of innovative feedback. However
students are unhappy that no feedback is
received on exams.
IT Facilities. Lack of computer and printing
facilities particularly in CSHS
Assignment Schedule. Balance of workload,
several assignment deadlines together around
busy teaching periods (CSE)
In the 2015/16 academic year the Student
Experience intern will focus on gathering
student feedback of the Personal Tutoring
systems through the rep structure.
2015 NSS results show that assessment and
feedback is still one of the lower scoring areas.
Student feedback also suggests whilst there are
some fantastic examples of video, audio, group
and detailed feedback this is still inconsistent.
There are also still issues with the timeliness of
feedback particularly where there are large
cohorts. Some areas have managed students
expectations well by extending stated
turnaround for larger groups but again this is
not consistent.
The Information Services team have begun
work to identify why CSHS students satisfaction
with computer facilities tends to be much
lower than in other schools and how this can be
improved. A staff liaison role has been created
for each school and in CSHS this will be the
initial focus.
Staff within the School of Education have
reviewed assignment schedules to avoid
bunching of assignments.
Specific example module MAE 7034 two
assignments due on same day has now been
changed. The school now also has a centralised
spread sheet of assessments across all
Organisation and Communication. Particularly
raised in CSAD at masters level linking to
campus move.
Employability. Wide range of opportunities
available across the University and SU. DLHE
stats showing 95% employability rate of
graduates.
Library Services. Students very satisfied with
library services and the channels available to
offer feedback on the service.
Welsh Medium. CSE students highlighted need
for more Welsh medium resources
Student Representation. Vastly improved
representation structure with introduction of
different levels and continued review including
training offered.
programmes so that this can be monitored
more effectively.
2015 NSS results show organisation and
management as one of the lower scoring areas
particularly in CSAD. There were still some
issues related to the change of campus and the
change in curriculum within the school.
The Students’ Union has added a
Representation Development Intern to the
school to support the rep structure and to
ensure future issues are raised and dealt with
in a timely manner.
SU’s employability programme (UMAX) has
continued to grow with the introduction of a
volunteering scheme. This initially offered oneoff community based volunteering
opportunities organised by a staff member and
is expanding further still to include a student
led volunteering committee to organise and
manage more projects.
Additional workshops have been added to the
programme both in 2014/15 and looking
forward to 2015/16. These have broadened the
programme to include Equality and Diversity,
Cultural Awareness and in 2015/16 will bring
enterprise skills to UMAX.
This continues to be the case, students have
the opportunity to feedback on the library
through SSLC and directly to the team.
It has been noted that there is a national
shortage of Welsh Medium resources and that
perhaps an exercise in managing student
expectations is necessary. The Welsh collection
in the library has been relocated to make it
more visible for students and staff have been
tasked with using Welsh versions of Welsh
Government documents where available.
Further advancements to representation
include the addition of Post Graduate Lead Rep
to each school as well as a Sports and Social
Rep to focus more on the student experience
outside learning and teaching.
A student intern was hired for the 2015
summer period to update and develop rep
resources including handbooks for each level,
rep recruitment guidance and new initiatives to
encourage and reward more engaged reps.
School Rep training extended from a 2 day
event to 5 days including a session from the
University on its strategic plans and how
students fit into these.
Lead Rep training now School specific to reflect
the nature of the role. Session planned and run
by the School Rep with support from the SU.
Internationalisation. SU visits to UK and
overseas partners. Support of student
representation at partner institutions with
training event and online resources.
One day Course Rep training offered by the SU
in conjunction with an external training
organisation. Followed up in each school with
school specific sessions developed and run by
School Reps with support from the SU.
Further visits to home and international
partners have taken place including Cardiff and
Vale College, City Unity College Greece, Arab
Academy Egypt and DPC Greece.
Another partner visit was hosted by Cardiff Met
SU giving a student rep from each partner
institution the opportunity to tour Cardiff and
our campuses as well as undertaking rep
training and support to pass this on to their
peers when returning to their own institutions.
A Partnership Intern has been hired by the
Students’ Union to work 2 days a week on
projects to engage partner students. This
includes planning and running the annual
partner visit, visiting partner campuses and
enabling communication between students on
different campuses.
Hannah Reilly, Director of Student Engagement