Economics Network Student Focus Group scheme 2010/11
The Economics Network ran its second Student Focus Group scheme. From October 2010 to March 2011 the Network provided 9 student focus groups free of charge to departments. The focus groups were fully confidential but a report examining emerging themes in departments has been written.
Background
In 2009-2010 the Economics Network completed its fifth national biennial survey of economics students, which looks in depth at the issues that economics students find in learning and assessment. This survey complements the National Student Survey, an annual survey for all disciplines since 2005.
In order to help departments tackle issues highlighted by such surveys, the Economics Network has run a Student Focus Group scheme.
Feedback from 2009/10 scheme
“It [the student focus group] has already been exceptionally useful… there is an important and focused meeting of the department with School representatives on Thursday during which some of the themes which came up will be discussed.”
“We have examined the data from three sources: the NSS, the Economics Network Student Survey, and the Economics Network Focus Group. Together these provide a body of evidence to identify where the key issues lie and motivate the discussion as to the way forward in addressing our students' concerns. The first step in this process is that we are hosting a workshop here …, supported by the Economics Network, to present this data and explore possible strategies for improving our assessment and feedback support.”
