The Higher Education Academy has just published the survey results of more than 24,000 undergraduates, in a first attempt to understand and measure ‘learning gain’ in UK universities. The report is based on the US’s National Survey of Student Engagement which is a well-established survey used worldwide, to investigate students’ perceptions of skills development and educational activities.
Findings, for example, revealed that students reported the greatest development in the two skills considered of great importance to higher education – critical and analytical thinking, and becoming an independent learner. The results in this area were consistent across subjects. There was a further distinction in the report on ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills, the former related to academia and the latter on teamwork, cultural understandings, and personal values. The results here were subject-dependent.
The report is important in that it will surely contribute to our growing understanding of the skills most required after academic studies, such as those required by the employers, or ’employability skills’. It will also shed light on what students feel are important areas of development during their studies, which will add to further discussion regarding cost-value in HE and satisfaction of students.