Addressing sector challenges
Over ten years ago, our members told us that they would like to be sure that the significant sums of money they were investing in digital technologies really were benefitting their learners and staff and delivering the expected return. After extensive consultation and research, the digital experience insights service was launched and the first surveys were piloted in 2016. Over the years, we’ve supported universities and colleges to use the data generated by student/learner and staff surveys to:
- Better understand and improve the digital experiences of their students and staff
- Improve their digital environment and infrastructure
- Provide baseline data for key digital developments and transformation initiatives
- Evidence return on investment in the digital environment
- Evidence and monitor changes over time
- Benchmark against other similar institutions across the sector
- Evaluate the impact of a strategy or initiative
- Improve digital support for students and staff and enhance the provision of digital/blended learning.
Launching our 2025/26 surveys – key considerations
The surveys for HE and FE students/learners, teaching staff and professional services staff are now open. Universities and colleges can run their student or learner surveys anytime up until the 1 May 2026 and their staff surveys up until or 3 July 2026. While the surveys are very easy to run (see our quick start guide), experience has taught us that there are three key areas that, if addressed, can really make a difference:
- Build your team – don’t go it alone unless you really have to. There will be many stakeholders with a vested interest in ensuring tech spending benefits the digital experience your organisation delivers, and in this case, team work really can make the dream work! Getting all the key players onboard from the outset will get you off to a good start and a great way of kick-starting your communications strategy. Quite who you involve will depend on your organisational structure and any other related initiatives. Some members form a core project team, others may play specific roles at specific times and need to be kept in the loop. Roles to consider inviting include:
- A senior sponsor/champion to drive the vision and lead key messaging
- Heads of school
- IT and estates directors
- Curriculum enhancement specialists
- E-learning technologists and developers
- Student services and support teams
- Library and learning resource teams
- Communications and marketing teams
- Professional development specialists
- Student and staff representatives
- Staff with data analysis expertise.
2. Proactive engagement drives impact – a robust response rate will elevate the potential impact of your data. Use the stakeholder groups to get your key messages out and take the message to your target audiences in the places they frequent. Use the digital signage you have available to you across your organisation, work with champions, ambassadors and interns ensure the purpose and vision behind your commitment to the survey is well communicated.
While intrinsic motivations can be very powerful if the messaging is strong, many organisations also offer incentives such as a prize draw in exchange for participation. Incentives vary from one large prize to several smaller prizes or even coffee vouchers/seasonal treats given for on-the-spot completion. For staff, consider whether there are other related initiatives being launched that you can piggy-back on. Providing time at staff meetings and student tutorial sessions where you have a captive audience and can provide support is also effective.
Once launched – monitor your data, use early response trends as part of your ongoing communication strategy and don’t be afraid to use the prompt emails in our survey tools to remind those who have yet to respond and give little hints from the feedback already received to entice further engagement eg:
“Feedback so far says that you are loving the new learning portal … do you agree? It’s not too late to have your say.”
Our case studies will give you some examples of how others have engaged their audiences.
3. Making your data work for you – closing the feedback loop is so important. Ensure your survey findings are shared with all key stakeholders, at key committee meetings and development groups. Perhaps you have a strategic planning group, a teaching and learning or curriculum development group? Is your estates planning team looking for additional data? How can the data generated support your work on digital capabilities?
And if you have the capacity to do a deeper dive into some aspects of practice that are particularly relevant for you, consider focused reports for specific audiences. In the past we have done this on a national basis on topics such as digital poverty and the experience of international students, others have looked at how the data can inform support for learners with additional needs.
And don’t forget the students and staff who contributed to the surveys – make sure they know that their voices have been heard and how you are acting on the findings by promoting the impact of their participation as loudly as you sought their input!
Find out more
Find out more about the digital experience insights survey.
We offer a comprehensive support package that includes regular webinars, a community of practice, detailed guidance and consultancy.
Contact your relationship manager to improve the digital experience of your students/learners and staff.
