Improving our student experience 2025/26
We were pleased with our 2025 NSS results in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, which reflected the hard work and commitment of our student partners, Professional Services and Academic colleagues. Building on this progress, during 2025/26 we delivered a programme of activity focused on Assessment and Feedback, Student Voice and Organisational and Service Excellence.
All Faculty-level actions set out below have now been completed. The resulting improvements are in place across the Faculty and, where appropriate, have been embedded into our ongoing ways of working. This achievement reflects the strength of collaboration across our community and our shared commitment to continually improving the student experience.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
19. Consistent communication of joint honours programmes.
Faculty comms team to support audit of current communications with a view to improving consistency.
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.
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.
