Student satisfaction levels up again

In the annual National Student Survey (NSS) The University is ahead of the national average with 86% overall satisfaction and is the third equal highest University climber in UK.*

Nationally, around 287,000 final-year students responded to the NSS this year and the results provide valuable information for prospective students as well as universities and colleges.

Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Petford said: “Students are the focus in everything we do. There are so many league tables published throughout the year but for me these are the most important because the feedback comes direct from the people that really matter; our students.

“In the last year we have worked hard to further improve the student experience and it hasn’t gone unnoticed, as the survey results show. We have just opened our new £450k Student Union facilities on Park Campus. And in the past couple of months work has also started on the St John’s Halls of Residence in the heart of Northampton.

“These NSS statistics are just the latest of significant external recognition of our continued success. We have just been shortlisted in the 2012 Times Higher Education Awards in the category of Entrepreneurial University of the Year. This year at the Midlands Business Awards we were also named 2012 Enterprising University of the Year.

“Our students leave Northampton with a great qualification but we also work hard to make sure that they leave with the skills that make the most of their talents to make them attractive to future employers in whatever sector and now we have the statistics to prove that too.

“We are England’s No 1 University for Employability which means that 96% of our graduates from full-time courses 2010/11 were in employment or further study within six months of completing their course.**

“Students leave us with the skills that mean they can compete for the best jobs in a competitive job market.

“We are committed to being the number one university for social enterprise and every Northampton student gets a chance to get involved in these socially responsible businesses. It gives them a taste of the real world and also helps benefit the wider community on so many levels.

“It means our students have a depth of knowledge in their core academic area subject AND a breadth of experience and confidence across more broad themes too that help make them more attractive future employees. That’s where we are different and is demonstrated by these great employability statistics.”

* Excluding specialist institutions

** Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey 2010/11. July 2012, compared to full university status HEI’s for full time study first Undergraduate degree leavers.