Improving our student experience 2025/26
We were pleased with our 2025 NSS results in the Faculty of Science and Engineering which reflect the hard work and commitment of our student partners, Professional Services and Academic colleagues. This progress highlights the strength of collaboration across our community and our shared commitment to enhancing the student experience.
This year, the University is continuing to prioritise Student Voice and Assessment and Progression as key areas for improvement and impact. In addition, the University will be taking forward a number of actions under Organisation and Service Excellence.
We’ll be updating this page throughout the year to share progress in these three areas within our Faculty.
Assessment and Feedback
1. Clarity on opportunities, format and timescales (timeline on Canvas + exemplars).
In each Canvas Unit Space, under the Assessment and Feedback section – ensure the following is listed:
- Summative Assessments: Assessment type, weightings, marking criteria, deadlines, submission method/location.
- Feedback: Date when feedback will be available and how it will be issued including exam script viewing. and exam script/solution viewing.
- Formative Assessments: If offered, detail format and feedback method.
- Q&A Forum: To enable students to ask questions in which all answers are visible to all students.
- Assessment Exemplars: where possible, share examples of exemplar work for similar assessments.
The Canvas Course Unit Aims and Support page should contain a link or list of the Intended Learning Outcomes.
January 2026 update
- Semester 2 units published on Canvas using agreed template and are being quality checked for adherence to the template by eLearning team interns.
- eLearning Semester 1 / Full Year unit checks were completed in December and results have been fed back to disciplines to improve quality.
2. Assessment clarity workshops, drop-ins, or established effective activities.
Student’s assessment literacy supported in each discipline. Either through written material or video on Canvas Community Spaces or via workshops.
January 2026 update
- Materials relating to Assessment Clarity are now available on Canvas Community spaces for all Disciplines.
- Associate Dean for Teaching Academy will bring plans for supplementary Start of Year workshops to School Teaching Learning & Student Experience Committee (STLSEC) to plan implementation.
3. Feedback literacy and briefing session before first assessment.
Student’s feedback literacy supported in each discipline. Either through written material or video on Canvas Community Spaces or via workshops.
January 2026 update
- Materials relating to Feedback Literacy are now available on Canvas Community spaces for all Disciplines.
- Associate Dean for Teaching Academy will bring plans for supplementary Start of Year workshops to STLSECs to plan implementation.
4. Peer review and calibration of assessment briefs, mapping of ILOs onto assessment.
Ensure that Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) are listed on SLATE for every unit; consequently, SLATE must be completed for all units. Peer review is already embedded within existing moderation processes and amendment approvals. Units should be paired (“buddy up”) to review each other’s assessment briefs, which, in many cases, will be undertaken by the unit’s designated moderator.
January 2026 update
- Following Cross-Faculty agreement, fulfilment of this action will be based on ILOs being published on Canvas rather than via the SLATE system.
- Semester 2 units published ILOs on Canvas using agreed template. Checks by eLearning team interns will quality check for adherence to template.
- eLearning Semester 1 / Full Year unit checks were completed in December and results have been fed back to disciplines to improve quality.
- Peer review processes for assessments are already embedded in current practice for all disciplines.
5. Clear detail on moderation process for all students and teaching staff.
School-level summary outlining the moderation of examinations and coursework, both during the assessment design stage and throughout the marking process. This document is to be developed collaboratively by School Teaching and Learning Managers, Assessment and Progression Officers and subsequently uploaded to the Student Virtual Hub for access by both staff and students.
January 2026 update
- ‘Journey of a mark’ video has been filmed and is being produced with a view to this being uploaded to Canvas Discipline spaces in Semester 2.
6. Published Feedback timeliness charter.
Using the central Feedback Policy as a basis, a School Feedback Timeliness Charter will be developed which sets out commitments, expectations and standards around how quickly feedback will be given. This will be uploaded to the Student Virtual Hub to be accessed by Students and Teaching staff.
January 2026 update
- Timeliness Charter written using feedback infographic developed by Material Science was discussed and agreed at School of Engineering STLSEC. Charter is now uploaded to Canvas spaces for all Disciplines.
Please note that actions 7 – 11 are covered in One University Actions*
Student Voice
12. Early to mid-unit survey, act on “quick win”, feedback tracked, visible and presented to students.
Continue mid-semester survey, Faculty to publish tracker to students, Faculty Comms to develop messaging regarding how comments are actioned and why not all comments are actionable.
January 2026 update
- Semester 1 mid-semester surveys implemented using Explorance BLUE via colleagues in Teaching and Learning Delivery. Quick wins from feedback received will be explored and published.
- Practice now fully embedded and plans to strengthen throughout the remainder of the academic year.
- In addition, a workshop being led with the FSE Officer will co-create a new question set with student representatives. The aim of this is to improve student engagement with surveys and align outcomes more closely with Student Voice Committees.
13. Two Student Voice meetings per semester. Report and publish actions/response.
While the process is currently established, its effectiveness can be enhanced by:
- Implementing a standard agenda structure for all meetings
- Adopting a uniform minutes template
- Recording all actions/responses/updates in the tracker within 10 working days following each meeting
January 2026 update
- Student Voice Committee meetings are scheduled at least two times per semester. Actions / responses are being published in disciplines and through action 14.
- All disciplines are meeting as required and are closing the feedback loop with students. Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) are working with the Student Union (SU) to enhance the Student Voice Committee meetings further.
14. Digital Feedback Tracker updated more than three times per semester, pick out/act on key themes.
Current Student Feedback Tracker is online and will continue to be updated at least 3 times per semester. The Student Feedback Tracker will be reviewed and further improved by reviewing the sources of information that feed into the tracker, how key themes are to be identified for escalation to STLSEC, how does the tracker look to students, where should it be published/housed to maximise its reach, monitor and evaluate its effectiveness.
January 2026 update
- A project plan and draft quality assurance process is currently being developed for identifying key themes and the action to be taken.
15. Celebrate successes in lectures/newsletters.
The Information, Advice and Guidance team will request each Discipline to provide recent achievements and successes for inclusion in the existing Discipline newsletters.
January 2026 update
- This is already happening within disciplines and via IAG. Some disciplines have their internal newsletters in addition to School supported newsletters.
16. Develop effectiveness of Faculty Forums with UMSU.
Faculty Forum currently run once a semester. Continue to schedule Faculty Forums each semester. In addition:
- Conduct a review of its effectiveness (Faculty SSD Team & UMSU)
- Implement any recommendations from the review
- Maintain/update Student Feedback Tracker (see no.14 above)
- Faculty Forum reports to be hosted on the FSE Student Voice webpages and the SU website.
January 2026 update
- FSE/SU run an effective Faculty Forum – student attendance has increased and FTLSEC colleagues are invited and attend Faculty Forum.
- Joint Faculty Student Success & Development (SSD) & SU Review has taken place – recommendations/outcomes to be considered and implemented accordingly.
- Agreed Faculty Forum Reports to be shared with other relevant TLSE committees e.g. STLSEC, Faculty Executive etc.
Organisational and Service Excellence
17. Consistent one-page semester “key dates and contacts” guide on Canvas.
Covered by Faculty Canvas template and the assessment timeline action as above an action 1. All units must adhere to Faculty Canvas template.
January 2026 update
- Semester 2 units published on Canvas using agreed template. Checks by eLearning team interns will quality check for adherence to template in early February.
- eLearning Semester 1 / Full Year unit quality checks were completed in December and results have been fed back to disciplines to improve quality.
18. Consolidated and live key deadlines and events.
Summary on Canvas Community spaces that collates together key events for that Discipline – e.g. careers events, poster days, results release window, etc.
January 2026 update
- This is in place on Canvas for all disciplines and is supported by the TLSE programmes team.
19. Consistent communication of joint honours programmes.
Faculty comms team to support audit of current communications with a view to improving consistency.
January 2026 update
- Faculty Comms team collaborating with both School IAG teams to clarify communication channels and ensure alignment.
- This includes mapping the types of communications issued to students and identifying areas where duplication or mixed messaging may occur (eg: conflicting instructions from home and outgoing Schools).
- Several quick-wins have been implemented, including monitoring outgoing comms and incorporating feedback from student reps.
- Comprehensive comms plan is currently in development and will be shared with IAG teams and key academic staff once finalised.
20. Established practices in place to update students on changes to their programmes.
Action to formalise existing practices, ensure their inclusion within the Student Virtual Hub and communicate them effectively to all staff.
January 2026 update
- University-approved programme amendment communication templates have been finalised and release for use across all Schools.
- The School will adopt these templates for the 26/27 programme amendment cycle.
- Presentation to the School STLSEC is scheduled for 3rd February to support implementation and staff awareness.
- This process will now be integrated into BAU.
Please note that action 21 is covered in One University Actions*
*One University Actions
Some actions are being progressed at University level as part of One University Actions in the areas of Assessment and Feedback and Organisation and Service Excellence. Completion is not required at School level.
