Dear Colleague,

The experience that Imperial offers to students and how to improve it were put under the microscope at an Away Day for senior staff held on Friday 21 October at the British Academy. Six students joined us and made valuable contributions to our discussions.

Recommendations coming out of the Away Day were considered at the October Management Board and we agreed that the two most significant and urgent action points relate to the undergraduate experience – in particular, the quality and timeliness of assessment and feedback; and the quality, price and distance from College of student accommodation.

Heads of Department will now be developing action plans outlining measures already in place and measures that they will be introducing during the current academic year to improve the undergraduate student experience. These will be submitted to Faculty Principals and presented at the Management Board meeting in December. At the same time we will also progress actions at College-level relating to the provision of student accommodation, social amenities and catering facilities.

Further details of the recommendations and action points coming out of the Away Day are available on this blog site. I hope you will take the opportunity to offer your comments on the discussions, along with any suggestions you have for ensuring that Imperial offers students an experience of the highest quality.

Best wishes,

Keith O’Nions

Watch a video of Keith O’Nions speaking about the Rector’s Away Day

Context:

The total student body for 2010-11 consisted of:

• 54% home students
• 17% EU students
• 29% overseas students

Factors which have the greatest impact on students’ university choices:

• Parents, league tables and teachers (for international students)
• Visits, parents and league tables (for home students)

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Context
In the College’s 2010-2014 Strategy, the College committed to develop its use of learning technology and to continue to improve its face to face learning and laboratory experience.

The International Student Barometer indicates that for prospective students choosing Imperial, teaching quality ranks highly. It is the most important factor for both home and international students.

The National Student Survey 2011 has shown that overall satisfaction with Imperial is high (85%) and that teaching quality is regarded at a similar level (83%). At a departmental level satisfaction with teaching varies (highest score 98%; lowest 74%).
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Context – accommodation

Applications for undergraduate accommodation received over the summer of 2011 suggested that location and price are the most important factors for students when considering where to live. 

The most popular hall of residence is Beit, which is close to the South Kensington Campus and offers a wide variety of rent prices. 

Imperial’s halls of residence fall into the following categories for travel time to the South Kensington Campus: 

• 3-minute walk – 53% (1,160 beds)
• 15-minute walk – 28% (621 beds)
• 25 minutes or more of travel – 19% (418 beds) 

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Context
Several internal and external surveys have pointed to a need to improve the feedback students receive on assignments, not only in the level of detail given, but also in the speed of its delivery. The results of the 2011 National Student Survey show that satisfaction with assessment and feedback is a particular area for improvement (54% overall, which ranks Imperial 163^rd in the sector).

Only two departments at Imperial are above the sector average in this category and there is great variation across the College (highest score 92%; lowest 36%).
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