MARCH 2023
MARCH 2023
619 participants
SUBU’s Full-Time Officers designed the survey to explore three themes: The Impact of Strikes and Industrial action, Attendance on Campus and BU Student Services
The survey ran between 6th and 10th March 2023
619 students took part, responding to our online survey - this is the highest Spring Term SPEAK WEEK participation for the last 7 years! A variety of prizes were included to encourage student engagement:
Speak Week has taken place every academic year for over 10 years. In all previous years, as was the case this year (202223), two events were ran, one in the Autumn Term and one in the Spring Term.
This year, Speak Week engaged over 900 more student participants than in 2021-22, and over 1000 more than in 2018-19!
The growth of student engagement with Speak Week this year is extremely exciting and we look forward to the challenge of increasing our number of responses again in 2023-24!
182 767 299 459 845 277 417 329 86 619 18/19 19/20 20/21 21/22 22/23 Autumn Term Spring Term
NOVEMBER 2022
619 participants
Year of Study
time student officers designed the survey themes to explore: the costs of living, access to learning and life on campus
The survey ran between 21st and 25th November 2022
845 students took part - 824 responded to the online survey, and 21 completed a feedback cardthis is the highest SPEAK WEEK participation on record! Communication and reward
assets:
Faculty Campus
Fees 160, 28% 81, 14% 193, 34% 141, 24% Bournemouth University Business School
Sciences Faculty
Faculty of Science and
12, 2% 190, 33% 127, 22% 3, 0% 80, 14% 168, 29% Foundation 1st 2nd Placement Final Postgraduate 467, 81% 105, 18% 8, 1% Talbot Lansdowne Other 346, 60% 231, 40% Home/ UK International
Faculty of Health and Social
of Media and Communication
Technology
How affected have you been personally by strikes and industrial action (academic and nonacademic) this academic year?
1 in 4 surveyed students said they were very or extremely affected by strikes and industrial action this academic year.
Extremely affected
Very affected
Somewhat affected
Not affected
Almost two thirds (65%) were affected by strikes at least to some extend. And just over a third of students said they have not been affected.
50, 8% 84, 14% 269, 43% 216, 35%
Two-thirds of BU students were at least somewhat affected by strikes and industrial action
These proportions were consistent across home, international students and all levels of study.
of home students of International students
of First Year students of Postgraduate students
Students based in Lansdowne campus were less likely to report being affected by strikes and industrial action than those in Talbot.
of Talbot based students of Lansdowne based students
NHS
Have you been personally impacted by strikes or industrial action from any of the following workers? (Tick all that apply).
Almost half of the surveyed students reported they were impacted by rail workers’ strikes.
One in three students were impacted by academic strikes.
HEALTHCARE WORKERS OTHER BORDER FORCE
One in four students felt the impact of postal workers’ strikes. And every fifth student felt the effects of teachers’ strikes.
47%, 292 35%, 216 25%, 153 19%, 120 15%, 90 5%, 28 2%, 12
ACADEMIC
RAIL WORKERS
STAFF POSTAL WORKERS TEACHERS
STAFF/
TITLE
Lectures and seminars cancelledImpact on Education
303 out of 651 free text comments (47%)
“Cancelled seminars and lectures, missing entire weeks of content without added time to catch up when it’s released at the same time as the next weeks content”
• Students complained that strikes negatively impacted the number of lectures/ seminars they had over the academic year.
“…missed out on a lot of the content”
• They missed content, teaching, placement and lab hours as a consequence.
• Negative impact on assessments, disrupted timetables and workload, loss of momentum and motivation.
“It has lessened the quality and consistency of my lectures + seminars. Causing a disruption to my schedule and my progress in work.”
“I lost study momentum as well as self discipline and attention.”
“I wasn’t able to do my assignment as I was unable to contact people. I failed a unit because of it…”
Value for money + Frustration
182 out of 651 free text comments (28%)
• Students had value for money concerns for their education.
“I'm a student from a deprived background. I have spent my life savings to attend this course... They ask me for my support when they …live comfortable lives. My family genuinely struggles to make ends meet, so asking for my support while they won't even give me notice is ridiculous.”
• There was frustration among those attending classes when lecturers did not turn up.
• Many also experienced anxiety and stress with last minute rescheduling/ cancellations.
“The lecturers don't turn up to lectures after we pay 9k a year for them to be there.”
“It has been very difficult deciding whether or not to risk £10+ and an hour each way to travel to Uni…”
• Some students understood why strikes were happening, while others were less sympathetic.
“The few teaching hours we have were cancelled; hardly worth the money as it is- many important academic-related events were cancelled.”
“Always on edge about if stuff will be cancelled.”
“I am more aware and emphatic to the struggles and inequalities that lectures and support staff face”
Wider Strikes Effects – Train, NHS, Postal, Teachers
205 out of 651 free text comments (31%)
“I had my birthday a couple of days ago and my friends from outside Bournemouth couldn’t make it, that made me sad.”v
“I’ve been unable to return to Uni due to rail strikes so have missed lectures”
• Where wider strike effects were concernedthose found most disruptive by students were the train strikes (169 out of 651 free text comments - 26%).
“Each nursing strike day has meant that any student nurse on placement that day lost 7.5 hours if due to be on shift that day.”
• Students reported being unable to come to uni, travel home and missing other important appointments.
• Some students also shared concerning effects of nursing strikes linked to reduced placement hours and appointment delays.
• A small number also complained about missing parcels due to postal strikes.
“I haven't received healthcare for my heart condition due to NHS strikes meaning I have been more poorly throughout the year”
“Strikes with trains prevented me from getting home to my sick grandma and then again after she died and I wanted to support my father.”
How often are you unable to attend lectures, seminars and booked events on campus?
One third of students reported attending all lectures, seminars and booked events on campus.
However, 40% of students said they were unable to attend campus weekly and additional 28% - monthly.
It is concerning to see such significant numbers missing lectures, seminars and booked events with such regularity.
93, 16% 147, 24% 169, 28% 195, 32%
More than twice a week Once a week Once a month Never
of students said they attended all lectures, seminars and booked events on campus.
of first year students said they attended all lectures and events on campus
of students 24 or under said they attended all lectures and events on campus
of postgraduate students said they attended all lectures and events on campus
of students 30 or over said they attended all lectures and events on campus
“Make lectures more engaging and have more communities. Some of the lectures I’ve been to have been rather boring because of the teaching style being lacklustre, like I’m still in middle school.” First year student, aged under 21.
Which of these factors affect your attendance/ engagement with your course? (Tick all that apply).
Students raised a variety of factors when asked what affected their attendance and engagement with their course.
The four most frequent factors, all being selected by over a quarter of students were:
food on campus, teaching and presentation style,
action, and the price of travel.
cost of
and
9%, 56 14%, 82 14%, 87 14%, 87 16%, 98 18%, 107 26%, 157 28%, 168 30%, 179 31%, 188 OTHER NONE OF THE ABOVE FAMILY COMMITMENTS RECORDED LECTURES LACK OF COMMUNICATION WORK COMMITMENTS PRICE OF TRAVEL STRIKES/ INDUSTRIAL ACTION TEACHING/ PRESENTATION STYLE COST OF FOOD ON CAMPUS
strikes
industrial
Timetable
94 out of 404 free text comments (23%) Many students have expressed frustrations over the structure of their timetables. Two improvements to the timetable, which students suggested would improve attendance, were classes being less spread out over too many days in a week and big gaps between classes on a single day. “Because the lectures are mostly an hour or two a day, it means that I have to take a bus for that hour and then go back. Why not put most lectures on one or two days?”
“I try and make it to all scheduled sessions, but when seminars are just scheduled for an hour I find it hard to justify the travel expenses.”
“Make hours more accessible! Not so spread out. Rather have a few hours all at once than spread out”
“Fewer 9am lectures”
Quality of Education
79 out of 404 free text comments (20%)
A number of students raised concerns regarding the quality of their classes. Many of these students stated that classes and the way content was presented were not engaging enough.
“Presenting styles could be Improved. I feel like often lecturers just read from a screen.”
“Some of the lectures are accomplished academics, but this does not make them good teachers. They know a lot but don't necessarily translate it very well.”
“Speak to the lecturers about how they present their content. Some have high attendance and understand how to engage with students correctly and teach concepts properly. Other lecturers I have encountered are rude and blunt and tend to have a low attendance to lectures - as well as lecturers that read word for word off slides and give nothing else - people just read these lectures at home and see no point in coming in.”
“More interactive classes.”
Cost of Campus
58 out of 404 free text comments (14%)
“Lower prices at student union shop. Why shop there when there’s something cheaper five minutes away?”
A number of students made reference to higher financial costs they experience on campus when asked what BU and SUBU could do to support them. Many students commented that higher prices of food and drinks were a major factor which limited attendance on campus. A number of students also requested more free incentives for students who came onto campus, such as hot drinks and breakfast.
“Lower prices for food/drink on campus or a potential bus pass for those who need/have a bursary.”
“Lower prices” “Offer free food”
“Organise free breakfast to encourage students to come in the morning”
“Cheaper food”
“Make food cheaper”
Transportation
43 out of 404 free text comments (11%)
“SUBU would have to take initiative to lower the Unibus fare for BU students”
A number of students stated they felt transportation was a barrier to attending campus. The majority of these students stated that the cost of transport was a major barrier in particular. Some of these students requested the university offer subsidised or free public transport.
“Make a better price agreement with bus companies. And a more regular bus service with the U3.”
“Provide free bus for students”
“Sort out parking for students that live over 10 miles away. I have to drive over an hour to get to uni already and the park 15 mins away at Lansdowne. There’s often no parking around so I have to park further and it makes attendance impossible sometimes as I’m driving around looking for parking.”
If BU were to contact you regarding attendance concerns, what would be the best way for them to do this? Student
Over 40% of students stated they would like to be contacted regarding attendance concerns via their student email.
This was considerably higher than the next three highest preferences (personal email, Brightspace notification and text message) which were all chosen by less than 20% of students.
243, 41% 96, 16% 81, 14% 79, 13% 35, 6% 33, 6% 24, 4%
notification
Face-to-face meeting
email Personal email Brightspace
Text message Phone call
WhatsApp message
A number of Talbot based Student Services are planning to move to a new hub in Poole House from the 2023/24 academic year.
The project is aiming to enhance students’ campus experience by offering them a single point of entry to Student Services (except SportBU and Lettings BU which will remain in their current locations).
The services moving will include AskBU, Financial Support, Immigration, Additional Learning Support, Achieve and Accommodation. Careers and employability support will also be delivered from that location instead of the current careers centre by the Library.
The aim of Theme 3 was to ask students how this move would impact them and what they would expect from the new Student Services hub.
How easy or difficult do you currently find it to access the following Student Services?
More students said it was easy to access each of BU’s Student Services than said it was difficult.
A majority of students said AskBU was easy to access.
A majority of students said they have not used Disability and Additional Learning Support, Financial Support and Immigration and Visas. Just under half of students have not used Achieve@BU.
172, 29% 113, 20% 301, 52% 190, 32% 119, 20% 95, 16% 109, 19% 166, 28% 159, 28% 142, 25% 183, 31% 109, 19% 110, 19% 110, 19% 99, 17% 27, 5% 24, 4% 56, 10% 40, 7% 82, 14% 42, 7% 152, 26% 277, 48% 111, 19% 156, 27% 314, 54% 296, 51% 326, 56% ACCOMMODATION BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES ACHIEVE@BU ASKBU CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY DISABILITY AND ADDITIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUPPORT IMMIGRATION AND VISAS
Easy Moderate Difficult I have not used this service
of first year students
of students over 30
found AskBU difficult to access
of surveyed students of Lansdowne students
of surveyed students of international students of international students of surveyed students of final year students found Careers and Employability difficult to access
found Accommodation Bookings and Enquiries difficult to access
of international students of surveyed students of first year students
found Achieve@BU difficult to access
How do you expect the move to impact your experience and access to Student Services?
My experience and access will significantly improve
My experience and access will somewhat improve
There will be no change to my experience or access
My experience and access will be negatively affected
A majority of students said that the move of BU’s Student Services would at least somewhat improve their experience and access.
In contrast, 3% said it would affect them negatively.
168, 29% 195, 34% 193, 34% 16, 3%
What additional support would you like to access in the new hub? (Rank your top 3).
PLACEMENT SUPPORT
A majority of students requested that Placement Support be provided in the new Student Services hub.
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
CAMPUS SPORTS AND FITNESS
NETWORKING AND MENTORING SCHEMES WITH BU GRADUATES (ALUMNI)
The second and third most requested additional support services for the hub were Clubs and Societies and Campus Sports and Fitness
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES - STUDY EXCHANGE ABROAD
5%, 31 25%, 146 25%, 150 30%, 176 36%, 211 44%, 259 57%, 339
OTHER
What look and feel do you prefer for the new hub? (Some examples follow but we encourage your creative ideas).
138, 24%
A formal and well-lit reception/ registration area and staff in formal office clothing
A more relaxed entry, muted lighting and staff in smart casual clothing
445, 76%
The majority of students said they would prefer the new Student Services hub to have a more relaxed and casual look and feel rather than formal.
What service/ area name would you be looking for if you are seeking support?
298 students responded to this question.
Below are some examples of names some students would be looking for when seeking support!
“All Support”
“Help 360”
“Ask BU”
“Friendly Spot”
“The Help Desk”
“Helpful Hub”
“Support BU”
“Student Support Hub”
