Every year the secretariat carries out an anonymous survey of the experiences and views of its award holders in the UK. The survey covers all aspects of experience in the UK. Award holders are asked, for example, to rate facilities and teaching at their institutions and give their views on their course of study and overall academic experience. They are also asked about non-academic aspects, such as orientation, welfare advice and social activities along with their experience of the administration of their award. Finally they are invited to comment on their overall experience of living and studying in the UK and what the award has meant to them. Each year an increasing proportion of students respond to the survey.
Results of the survey are presented to the Commission and are also referred to in the Annual Report. A brief account of some of the highlights of the latest year's survey follows:
The table below shows some of the ratings over the years in terms of the percentage of respondents rating each aspect as 'excellent' or 'good' (the remaining options being 'satisfactory', 'poor' or 'very poor').
2000-2007 Surveys: combined ratings for excellent and good (%)
| |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
| Selection and placement procedures |
88 |
86 |
84 |
88 |
89 |
96 |
93 |
92 |
| ACU's administration overall |
96 |
95 |
93 |
92 |
93 |
96 |
94 |
95 |
| Standard of supervision/teaching |
87 |
85 |
83 |
81 |
87 |
84 |
88 |
85 |
| Access to Library |
86 |
84 |
86 |
87 |
89 |
91 |
92 |
91 |
| Access to computing facilites |
79 |
83 |
88 |
88 |
87 |
88 |
89 |
90 |
| Access to laboratories |
87 |
89 |
90 |
89 |
91 |
91 |
92 |
88 |
| Academic Facilities overall |
91 |
86 |
87 |
88 |
88 |
92 |
93 |
92 |
| Course of Study overall |
- |
85 |
84 |
81 |
85 |
85 |
87 |
86 |
| Academic Experience overall |
89 |
90 |
90 |
90 |
91 |
93 |
91 |
93 |
| Institutions' provision of advice |
57 |
65 |
67 |
66 |
66 |
69 |
70 |
69 |
| Overall experience of living in the UK |
84 |
87 |
89 |
88 |
88 |
90 |
92 |
91 |
Distance Learning Scholars and Professional Fellows have distinct surveys, looking at issues specific to their programmes.
Approximately 218 scholars and fellows attended the 2007 Welcome Programme, which was held at Central Hall, Westminster, London on Monday 12th November 2007. The day began with an introduction to the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Scholarships by the Commission’s Chair Professor Trudy Harpham, followed by a keynote speech by Professor Malcolm Gillies, Vice-Chancellor at City University and a former Commonwealth Scholar. Following the keynote speech, attendees broke into groups based on their award scheme to discuss their programme and meet with Commissioners and CSC and British Council Award Administrators. In the afternoon, themed sessions led by CSC Commissioners focused on specific areas of relevance to the aims of the CSC awards. The evening reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave attendees a further opportunity to meet each other, high commissioners and other guests from Commonwealth organisations and incorporated a speech from Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Europe and Public Diplomacy.
Attendees were asked to complete an online evaluation questionnaire after the event. They were asked, for example, to rate how interesting and useful they found specific parts of the day and give some overall feedback and suggestions for future events. 80% of all attendees completed the survey, representing 28 countries and 74 UK institutions/organisations. A brief account of some of the highlights of this year’s survey follows:
A very positive response was received to all parts of the day as can be seen from Table 1 showing the respondents ratings for each session. The Key Note by Professor Malcolm Gillies and the Introduction by Professor Trudy Harpham were particularly popular with 86% and 82% respectively rating the sessions as ‘extremely’ or ‘very interesting’. Table 2 breaks down ratings for each themed afternoon seminar. This year, the Brain Drain, Corruption and Evaluation sessions proved particularly popular with over 80% of award holders finding them either ‘extremely’ or ‘very interesting’. 91% felt that the day had met their expectations.
Table 1 Respondents ratings for each session
Session |
Extremely and Very Interesting |
Extremely interesting |
Very Interesting |
Quite Interesting |
Not Very Interesting |
Not at all Interesting |
Introduction to the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Scholarships |
82% |
29% |
53% |
17% |
1% |
0% |
Key Note Speech by Professor Malcolm Gillies |
86% |
45% |
41% |
13% |
1% |
0% |
Morning Group Meetings |
72% |
23% |
49% |
24% |
5% |
0% |
Themed Seminars |
72% |
25% |
47% |
22% |
5% |
0% |
Evening Reception* |
73% |
31% |
42% |
21% |
5% |
1% |
* in the case of the evening reception, participants were asked to rate how ‘enjoyable’ they found it.
Table 2 Respondents ratings for each themed seminar
Seminar Title |
Extremely and Very Interesting |
Extremely interesting |
Very Interesting |
Quite Interesting |
Not Very Interesting |
Not at all
Interesting |
Leadership and Influence |
78% |
23% |
55% |
23% |
0% |
0% |
Brain Drain
|
88% |
32% |
56% |
8% |
4% |
0% |
Corruption
|
86% |
50% |
36% |
14% |
0% |
0% |
Evaluation of Commonwealth Scholarships |
83% |
12% |
71% |
18% |
0% |
0% |
Role of the Commonwealth |
61% |
22% |
39% |
39% |
0% |
0% |
Universities and International Development |
71% |
29% |
42% |
25% |
4% |
0% |
Science and Technology Realisation |
50% |
11% |
39% |
29% |
21% |
0% |
|
