The Economics Network conducts regular surveys to research the current state of teaching and learning in Economics Higher Education in the UK. They inform our support role and give a voice to the HE Economics community.
We only publish national results, recognising that the data must not be used for league tables. For the student surveys, departments receive their own confidential report, which they can then compare to the national picture.
Economics Network surveys
Lecturers' response to the pandemic
We conducted a survey about online teaching as part of the 2020 Virtual Symposium on teaching and assessing online.
Economics education in the COVID-19 pandemic: what was done and what should be done?
This is a research project involving Fabio Aricò (University of East Anglia), Paul Cowell (University of Stirling), Adam Cox (University of Portsmouth), Ashley Lait (The Economics Network), and Paul Latreille (University of Sheffield).
Below is a video from a presentation at the 2022 TeachECONference.
Public understanding of economics
In association with ING, we have published two surveys into the public's perception and understanding of Economics:
Employer surveys
The Employers' Surveys conducted by the Economics Network aim to improve understanding of the skills economics graduates need in the workplace, to establish whether employers think these graduates generally possess the required skills and knowledge and to reveal any clear shortfalls in order to inform the UK economics academic community.
Results:
- 2019 survey - View the summary results and download the full report
- 2014-15 survey - View the results.
- 2012 survey - Read a summary of the results or download the full report "Economics Graduates' Skills and Employability".
- 2006-7 survey - Read a summary of the results or the full report "The Skills and Knowledge of the Graduate Economist".
In 2010 we also released "How Economics Students are Prepared for Employment", a summary of findings from the alumni and employer surveys.
National surveys of economics lecturers 2001-2011
The main objective of this survey is to clarify current practices and issues of concern to Economics lecturers and their students, as well as provide the Economics Network and those who fund us with information about how economics lecturers use our services and what impact it has on their teaching.
The most recent survey was conducted in 2011: Executive summary | Full report.
Also available:
- Summary of staff and student perspectives on eLearning from previous lecturer and student surveys
- Summary of common themes between the lecturer and student surveys
In previous surveys, lecturers reported a lack of support and positive incentives from their departments for teaching innovation. Despite this, they are making changes to their teaching methodology, although "chalk and talk" remains dominant.
Previous lecturer surveys: 2011 | 2009 | 2007 | 2005 | 2003 | 2001
Alumni survey (economics graduates) 2004-2008
The Economics Network conducts surveys of alumni, to investigate the knowledge and skills acquired in an Economics degree and their relevance to their job and career.
The most recent survey of alumni ran until December 2008: Executive summary | Full report
The previous Alumni survey was conducted in 2004. National aggregate results are available.
National surveys of economics students 2002-2012
The Economics Network's student surveys ask students about their pre-university learning experience and to evaluate their current courses and learning experience in economics.
In surveys so far, the quality and enthusiasm of the teaching staff emerged as a main determinant of the quality of the student experience. Economics itself came in for a great deal of praise as an interesting and challenging subject. The students have also shown a demand for active involvement in learning.
The most recent survey was conducted in 2012.
Previous student surveys: 2010 | 2008 | 2006 | 2004 | 2002
Student focus group scheme
The Economics Network Student Focus Group Scheme further investigated student attitudes emerging from the NSS. We facilitated eighteen focus groups between 2009 and 2011.
Reports for the emerging themes from focus groups are available for: 2009/10 | 2010/11
National survey of economics departments 2001
Our 2001 survey of Economics Departments gave a national overview of teaching practice, involving 40 department contacts. The responses showed the rate of use of various teaching and assessment styles and technologies. A short summary of the results is available.
Other HE surveys
National Student Survey (NSS)
The results of the National Student Survey, plus other Teaching Quality Information (TQI) data are available on the Discover Uni site.
The Key contacts conference 2009 included a presentation by Prof. Alison Wride (Exeter University) on Improving your National Student Survey scores.
Key Information Sets 2012-2014
The Economics Network has compiled the KIS data for economics available on the Unistats website and made it available in a single downloadable file.
- 2012 data - Excel file
- 2013 data - Excel file
- 2014 data - Excel file
