SDC tops Student Satisfaction Poll
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- Created on Friday, 15 June 2012 15:29
TREND BUCKING South Devon College have topped a South West university level student satisfaction survey, in the same week an official adjudicator revealed that complaints by students against universities in England and Wales have increased by 20%.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator's annual report for 2011 shows complaints increasing for a sixth successive year yet South Devon College are a clear first amongst all of Plymouth University’s South West Partner Colleges (UPC) with a huge 94.7% Overall Student Satisfaction rate in the Students’ Perceptions Questionnaire (SPQ) results. This was the highest percentage of all of Plymouth University’s partner colleges, from Cornwall to Bristol – the average level of student satisfaction for all the partner colleges was 85.1%.
“I want to congratulate South Devon College on their performance,” said Mark Stone, Acting Dean of Plymouth University, “This added to their NSS (National Student Survey) results really sets an example, not just within UPC but within the sector. I am really pleased for the staff and the students they support.”
“Congratulations to all those involved in providing top quality Higher Education teaching and support and the outstanding overall experience we expect for our students,” said South Devon College Principal Stephen Criddle, “Everyone should be very proud of this excellent standard and achievement. These are excellent results and reflect the quality and dedication of our staff teaching and supporting all our university courses.”
Students were given the opportunity to make comments, and many chose to voice their approval of the course they were studying: “I enjoy the course and would certainly recommend it to others” (HNC Construction student); “The tutors are absolutely fantastic -with the amount of support you get, you can contact them anytime and they get back to you straight away” (Foundation Degree Early Years student); “I would go to great lengths to promote this college and its facilities as I am greatly enjoying my time here” (Foundation Degree Business student); “Each of my lecturers are brilliant and very understanding, they all explain the work in detail so that we understand it fully” (Foundation Degree Healthcare Practice student).
Last year a National Student Survey conducted by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) placed South Devon College in the top 5% of Further Education (FE) Colleges in the country, and the highest ranked FE College in the South West with an 88% satisfaction rate compared to the 84% average. This new report once again places South Devon College as the highest ranked of Plymouth University’s partner colleges in the South West, this time for higher education and university level courses.
South Devon College offer many different Foundation Degrees in partnership with Plymouth University, accessible via many different routes. The word is spreading about the quality and success of South Devon College’s university courses, with September 2012 applications up by almost 9%, bucking the national downward 10% trend. Anyone wishing to study on a Foundation Degree in Engineering, Yacht Operations, Bioscience, Tourism & Hospitality Management, or Events & Conference Management may also be eligible for a £3000 fee waiver in their first year. For more information or to apply, call FREE on 08000 21 31 81, or visit www.southdevon.ac.uk/welcome-to-university.
