Staff, students and graduates at Wrexham Glyndwr University are celebrating after two national surveys showed strong performances in both student satisfaction and employment prospects.
The surveys – the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Higher Education Statistics Authority’s Graduate Outcomes survey – show the university ahead of the higher education sector in Wales on a host of key targets for both student satisfaction and graduate employment.
This year’s National Student Survey has revealed 87 per cent of students at Wrexham Glyndwr University are satisfied with the teaching on their course, and survey respondents at Glyndwr also rated the university above both the UK and Welsh averages on a wide range of measures this year.
Every final-year undergraduate across the UK is asked to complete the survey, which offers them the chance to air their views on a wide range of questions about their university, its teaching and assessment, the academic support they have received – and more.
These ratings saw Glyndwr exceed both UK and Welsh averages in the ‘teaching on my course’, ‘assessment and feedback’, ‘academic support’, ‘learning community’, ‘student voice’ and ‘Students’ Union’ scales.*
Respondents from eleven courses at Glyndwr gave an Overall Satisfaction rating of 90 per cent or more, with four courses scored at 100 per cent*.
Overall, students at Glyndwr are more satisfied too, as expressed through an improved score related to Overall Satisfaction.
The university was joint top in the UK and top in Wales for Overall Satisfaction in the History and Computer and Games Animation subject areas.*
It was also the top university in Wales for Overall Satisfaction in Computer and Games Animation, Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Forensic and Archaeological Sciences, History, Nursing (Non-Specific), Social Work and Sociology subject areas, and in two subject areas – Forensic and Archaeological Sciences and Nursing (Non-Specific) – it was top in Wales across all scales.*
Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar said: “Student satisfaction has risen across a range key areas in this year’s survey of Wrexham Glyndwr University students.
“As an institution, we place the student experience at the heart of what we do – and it is good to hear that those who have just completed their studies with us agree.
“Promising figures which show us ahead of the sector in both the UK and Wales demonstrate what students can expect when they study at Glyndwr, and with our continued focus on upgrading facilities, services, and resources, the future looks promising.”
Wrexham Glyndwr University Students’ Union Vice-President, Chloe Williams, who took up her post in July after completing a BSc in Mental Health and Wellbeing at the university, welcomed the results and said she would continue to work to ensure students’ views drove improvements and investment at the university.
She said: “As someone who has just finished a degree at Glyndwr, I’m pleased to see student satisfaction is up.
“Surveys like the NSS, which capture our students’ opinions, are vital. The university has listened to what students want and acted – and it’s good to see that action reflected in the results.
“I’m pleased, too that we are seeing investment continuing through the Campus 2025 programme, with new teaching and social learning facilities already in place – and much more to come.
“I look forward to engaging with both our students and with staff right across the university as Vice President to help ensure we keep on building on the good work that’s already been done.”
Meanwhile, a separate report, the Higher Education Statistics Authority’s Graduate Outcomes survey**, has shown Glyndwr to be the top Higher Education Institution in Wales for graduates securing employment. ***
This year’s Graduate Outcomes release reports findings from the survey carried out among graduates who secured their degrees at Glyndwr in 2017/8, fifteen months after they had finished their studies at the university.
It shows that 84 per cent of graduates were in employment or unpaid work, including 10% who were engaged in both employment and further study – the highest figure for any Welsh Higher Education Institution.***
Glyndwr was first in Wales for full-time employment for graduates from part-time postgraduate course and first in Wales for full-time employment for graduates from part-time undergraduate courses.****
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Claire Taylor, said: “While we’re keen on ensuring our students have a great experience at university, we know their story doesn’t stop there.
“Our innovative and industry-relevant courses help prepare our students for employment – helping to enrich our regional economy, both through our direct partnerships with key employers and through the work our staff undertake nurturing the diverse talents of our students.”