Surveys

The Office of Planning and Quality (OPQ) administers a number of national and institutional based surveys targeted to students, staff, employers and the community. The University of Western Sydney’s Tracking and Improvement System for Teaching and Learning outlines the various feedback surveys conducted by the University. The results are used to both prove and improve quality learning, teaching and its support of UWS.

To view details for a particular survey simply select the appropriate link below:

Learning and Teaching

• Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS)
• Indigenous Student Satisfaction Survey (ISSS)
• Offshore Student Satisfaction Survey (OSSS)
• Australian Graduate Survey (AGS)
• Student Feedback on Units Survey (SFU)
• Student Feedback on Teaching (SFT)
• Student Exit Survey
• Commencing Student Survey (CSS)

Research

• Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire (PREQ)
• Research Student Satisfaction Survey (RSSS)

Staff

• Staff Services Survey

Community Focused

• Employer Survey 
• Engagement Survey
• Community Engagement Analysis

Other

Learning and Teaching

Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS)

The UWS Student Satisfaction Survey gathers feedback from students on their experience of the University. It covers student perceptions of teaching, learning, student administration, student services, the Library, IT services, learning sources, facilities and food. There are a total of 86 items which are ranked on both importance and performance.

The survey targets a representative sample of 7000 undergraduate and postgraduate (coursework) students. Both paper and online versions are used to gather student feedback. This survey is conducted every two years.

This survey was conducted at UWS for the first time in October 2004, and replaces the earlier Through Students Eyes and First Year Experience Surveys. Results of the SSS survey have been analysed by organisational units with responsibilities in the main service provision areas covered by the survey, leading to the targeting of development and improvement strategies.

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Indigenous Student Satisfaction Survey (ISSS)

In late 2007 UWS implemented its inaugural Indigenous Student Satisfaction Survey. The findings of these surveys are being used to identify further improvement priorities of the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education.

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Offshore Student Satisfaction Survey (OSSS)

The Offshore Student Satisfaction Survey is specifically focused on services to undergraduate and postgraduate UWS students studying offshore. This survey is similar to UWS Student Satisfaction Survey which caters for the University’s onshore students. The UWS offshore survey is undertaken in order to ensure that the University is in compliance with the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes 2007(opens in a new window). In addition to their own internal quality assurance mechanisms, universities will be subject to regular external quality audit by AUQA. The quality assurance process will include consideration of offshore activities where these are undertaken'.

The Offshore SSS was initially conducted in November 2005. Obtain a copy of the 2010 Offshore Student Satisfaction Survey (opens in a new window)[PDF - 44Kb].

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Australian Graduate Survey (AGS)

The Australian Graduate Survey (AGS) is a national survey which includes the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Graduate Destination Survey (GDS). The AGS is administered by Graduate Careers Australia (opens in a new window)(GCA).

The CEQ measures student satisfaction of their course experience at the university and the GDS consists of questions about graduates' work or further study and salary.

All graduating student are highly recommended to participate in AGS. The findings of the survey will help the University improve on areas where improvement is needed. The survey data is also used by students and their advisers for career and study choices; by higher education institutions for future planning; and by employers when developing recruitment policies and programs. Results of these previous surveys, as well as information concerning graduate employment and starting salaries, are available on Graduate Careers Australia (opens in a new window)(GCA) web site.

All Australian higher education institutions participate in this survey on annual basis. The survey targets all students who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate course work degree. Institutions use three core and up to three optional scales.

Results of the AGS inform the UWS Annual Course Performance Reports, which are accessible from the table below:

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Student Feedback on Units Survey (SFU)

The UWS Student Feedback on Units Survey (SFU) gathers feedback from students on the individual units of study in which they are enrolled each semester. The SFU comprises 13 items relating to unit quality including content and relevance, assessment, learning environment, learning experience and outcomes, and workload. As well as ranking each item, students are invited to comment on best aspects and aspects needing improvement in the unit.

At UWS, SFU reports are available in August for semester 1 and in January for semester 2.  The University provides three sets of reports.

1. UWS Summary report - this report provides a summary of the results at the School and College level for each SFU item for the first and second half of the respective year. The report also includes an analysis for the year of the 'best aspects' and 'needs improvement' comments for UWS using CEQuery;
2. School Traffic Light report - this report presents the results for each unit in the School that has been surveyed covering; surveys issued, surveys returned, unit response rate and the mean score for each item which are colour coded to more easily show the performance of each unit in the respective school during the survey period. Trend data has also been provided at the School level for the last three years along with an analysis of the 'best aspects' and 'needs improvement' comments for the school using CEQuery;
3. Individual unit report - contains the results for each unit by item compared with the overall UWS mean score, the School mean score along with trend data for the unit for the last few years. The report also shows the number of surveys returned and the response rate for the unit. At the end of each report all the 'best aspects' and 'needs improvement comments' are listed. This is all provided in a single PDF file for each unit which is emailed to the respective unit coordinator. 

The UWS Summary reports for the years 2008 to 2011 can be found below:

For further information about the SFU survey, please contact the Survey Team at surveys@uws.edu.au or contact Trish Davies.

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Student Feedback on Teaching (SFT)

The purpose of the SFT survey is primarily to assist individual teaching staff in reflecting on their own teaching, and in targeting areas for development and improvement.  The survey continues to represent a key source of information in teaching evaluation processes which are amongst the obligations of academic staff mandated in the University's Enterprise Agreement, and comprising an essential element in their own performance and career development.  The survey comprises 31 items grouped into nine dimensions of teaching with two open ended questions, and a staff member self-evaluation survey.

At UWS, SFT result is confidential to the teacher only.  The University provides a report to the relevant teaching staff at the end of each semester via email.  The report has mean score for each item with comparison at overall UWS, school and individual teacher.  The report has results using ratings and it also has the details of response rate.  Finally the SFT report also has cleaned open ended comments on best aspects and needs improvement in a single PDF file.

Obtain a copy of the UWS SFT Survey (opens in a new window)[PDF - 27Kb].

Obtain a copy of the UWS Staff Member Self Rating survey (opens in a new window)[PDF - 22Kb].

You can request to order your SFT forms at Teaching Evaluation Registration (requires staff login). OPQ will process your request once your details are received.

For further information about the SFT survey, please contact the Survey Team at surveys@uws.edu.au or contact Trish Davies.

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Student Exit Survey

The Student Exit Survey was introduced at UWS in September 2004. The main purpose of this survey is to establish the reasons why students have withdrawn from the University and to improve the experience for future students in areas where a need for improvement is identified.

The target group for this survey is all students who withdraw from the University in a particular year.

Please note that all the reports which require staff login are stored on the UWS Intranet.

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Commencing Student Survey (CSS)

The Commencing Student Survey was introduced at UWS in March 2010. This survey gives focus to the empirically verified factors known to contribute to successful first year transition and retention. The CSS seeks to manage proactively student expectations and to highlight key areas upon which we need to focus.

The survey was sent to students who commenced their studies with UWS in 2010. The Survey was administered on-line with students responding to an email.

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Research

Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire (PREQ)

The PREQ is a national survey administered by Graduate Careers Australia (opens in a new window)(GCA). All Australian higher education institutions participate in this survey on an annual basis. The survey targets all graduating students who have completed Research degrees.

The current PREQ survey consists of 28 items and is made up of the following six scales:

1. Supervision
2. Intellectual Climate
3. Skills Development
4. Infrastructure
5. Thesis Examination Process
6. Clarity of Goals and Expectation
7. Overall Satisfaction

Obtain a copy of the UWS PREQ questionnaire (opens in a new window)[PDF - 244Kb].

The results of the PREQ are available at Survey Results and Action Taken (opens in a new window)(requires staff login).

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Research Student Satisfaction Survey (RSSS)

The UWS Research Student Satisfaction Survey targets all currently enrolled research students and taps research students' perceptions of their total student experience of the university.  Areas investigated include the quality of supervision, outcomes, administration and access to various student services. The survey items are ranked on both importance and performance.

The survey is distributed in both hard copy and online versions. It is conducted every two years. This survey was conducted at UWS for the first time in March/April 2005.

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Staff

Staff Services Survey

The Staff Services Survey was introduced in 2005 and provides all academic and general staff with an opportunity to identify areas of good practice and those requiring further improvement. It builds on the UWS quality of service projects.

The survey also invites staff to identify three most important things the University should do to improve its service to staff and colleges, schools and units and to suggest various ways the University could generate income and reduce cost. The survey is conducted online and the anonymity of responses is assured. 

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Community Focused

Employer Survey

The Employer Survey is distributed to the employers of UWS graduates. The survey aims to:

• gather employer perceptions of the key capabilities needed by graduates in the wide range of professions surveyed
• determine the image of UWS from an employer’s perspective
• identify key current and predicted developments in respondents’ professional area(s) which the University needs to take into account in order to ensure that its curriculum remains relevant and 
• identify the relative importance and performance of a range of services provided by the UWS Careers Service.

Employer names are gathered from various sources including the UWS GDS, Careers and Employment database, the UWS Cooperative Programs database, Community Engagement database and the extensive contacts of Schools and Colleges. The survey is conducted online with telephone support.

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Engagement Survey

The Engagement Survey was introduced in 2005. The survey is targeted to members of the community within Greater Western Sydney (GWS), including key commercial and professional groups, community organisations and groups, not-for-profit groups organisations and other current or potential UWS partners the GWS region.

Those involved have or may wish to get involved in any one or a mix of the following partnership activities with UWS: short courses, accredited courses, joint research or community service.

The survey invites respondents to identify the relative important of various engagement options and current performance in activating them. Its focus is on identifying the most relevant and productive way for the University to work in partnership with its Greater Western Sydney community.

Obtain a copy of the Engagement Survey (opens in a new window)[PDF - 201Kb].

Obtain a copy of the Engagement Survey Report 2005 (requires staff login)[PDF - 57Kb].

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Community Engagement Analysis

The UWS 2000-2005 Community Engagement Analysis was based on the data received from the schools and units mainly via the completion of the Self Assessment Guide for Community Engagement Activity in 2005. Other sources were:

• annual reports from across the University
• ARC linkage and similar partnership research grants
• regional engagement grants
• email requests
• search of the UWS website and partner websites.

Obtain a copy of the Self Assessment Guide for Community Engagement Activity (opens in a new window)[PDF - 31Kb].

Obtain a copy of the Results (requires staff login)[PDF - 26Kb].

Obtain a copy of the UWS Community Engagement Database (opens in a new window)[Excel - 405Kb].

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Other

The Office of Planning & Quality also assists administrative units in designing and conducting surveys. The following surveys were undertaken:

• My Student Record (MySR) Survey (2007-2010)
• Summer School Survey (2010)
• Advanced Cockpit Aircraft Survey (2010)  
• VET Transition Survey (2009)
• Curriculum Approvals and Publication System (CAPS) Survey (2009)
• Religious Survey (2008)
• Associate Heads of School Survey (2008)
• Successful Graduates Capability Survey (2008)
• Carrick Leadership in Higher Education Survey (2007)
• HR Customer Satisfaction Survey 2007
• Greater Western Sydney Schools Survey 2007
• Student Clinical Experience Survey (2007)
• Survey of Professional / Accrediting Bodies (2007)
• Graduations Guest Speaker Survey (2007)
• Our People Survey (2006)
• Equity and Diversity Survey (2006)
• ITD Client Satisfaction Survey (2006)
• Voluntary Student Unionism Survey (2006)
• Women's Network Survey (2006)
• Community Engagement Survey (2007 and 2004-05) 

To obtain a copy of the survey instrument for any of the above surveys, please contact Belinda de Jong.

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