Research
The Quality Advancement Unit is currently involved in a number of research projects. For more information on any of these projects, please feel free to contact the Unit.
Student Engagement
Student engagement/student involvement as defined by Astin (1985) is the “quantity and quality of the physical and psychological energy that the student invests in the college experience” (p. 156). The assumption is that the more engaged students are, the more they learn. The problem with current quality assurance systems is that educational quality is measured using indicators about institutions, teaching methods and student outcomes, which are only indirectly related to student learning. Current research backs up the assumption that even though institutions and staff play a role, learning is predominantly student centered. Thus it is assumed that measuring student engagement is a more direct way of measuring student learning. A literature review-based report is currently being produced concerning the merits of student engagement as a measure of learning, and benefits which student engagement-centred quality systems may have for the University.
Graduate Attributes: Graduate Perspectives
Annually since 1998, the Graduate Opinion Survey administered by the Quality Advancement Unit has been collecting data on graduate attributes. Graduates are asked to rate the extent to which they have devleoped 15 'generic skills' and also the extent to which they have applied these skills in their post-University experience. This study aims to collate and analyse the results of these surveys since 1998, and explore issues relating to the needs of graduates and employers, and the use of graduate profiles within universities.
Graduate Attributes: Employer Perspectives
Under the direction of the Director of Employer Relations, Marketing and Communications, this study is investigating the needs of employers with regards to graduate attributes. It includes direct surveys of employers, and will feature both quantitative and qualitative analysis of data collected.