You said, we did

The below actions are what Schools have put into place as a response to student feedback submitted during Survey Season 2024.

The School of Education

For Undergraduate Students:

• You said you wanted better updates on actions taken from your feedback: 'You said, we did' summaries are now provided at the start of the year.
• You said you wanted transparency about SSLC outcomes: Summaries from previous meetings, including changes made or reasons why certain feedback couldn’t be enacted, are shared with class reps.
• You said your feedback should shape professional accreditation: Input from focus groups now informs the accreditation of programs with bodies like GTCS.

For Postgraduate Taught Students:

• You said course feedback should drive program improvements: Course feedback forms and external examiner reports are reviewed, leading to appropriate program updates.
• You said survey results should lead to action: Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey results are analysed, and actions are implemented to address highlighted issues.
• You said you wanted focused discussions on student experience: PGT meetings now include dedicated reviews of areas such as student support, with actions taken to enhance your experience.

The School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History

DR4044: Dissertation (Divinity)

• You said the course timetable needed adjustments: Classes now run in weeks 1, 3, and 8 of the term.
• You said course materials could be streamlined: A single Dissertation Handbook has replaced multiple PowerPoint slides for use during classes.
• You said supervision needed consistency: Supervisors are now briefed on their roles and responsibilities for a uniform approach across staff.

HI1022: Europe in the 20th Century

• You said tutorials should better link with lectures and assessments: The tutorial schedule has been adjusted to strengthen these connections.
• You said essay requirements should focus more on secondary reading: The essay now prioritizes historiographical debate, with no requirement for primary sources.
• You said you wanted more Q&A time in lectures: Lectures have been shortened to allow for this.

HI4026: Special Subject: Myths of the North

• You said assignment deadlines shouldn’t coincide with classes: Classes are now avoided on assignment due dates.
• You said you wanted more diverse perspectives in discussions: Group work now focuses on different articles to encourage a variety of voices.
• You said the secondary reading was excellent: The highly praised articles have been retained as they were.

Philosophy

• You said second-year courses needed more lectures: An additional lecture per week has been introduced across all level-two philosophy courses.

The School of Psychology

• You said you wanted more consistency in your feedback. The School of Psychology have now introduced rubrics across all programmes to provide greater consistency in both volume and quality of feedback. The rubrics also provide an opportunity for students to self-assess their work.
• You said you would like opportunities for further study at postgraduate level. The School of Psychology are developing two new MSc programmes, one in Human Factors and one in Mental Health based on student feedback.
• You said you wanted clearer guidance on assessments. The School of Psychology have introduced assessment briefs across all programmes to provide clear guidance on how to complete an assessment along with greater transparency as to why this type of assessment has been selected and what skills you will develop as a result, linking to employability skills.   

In response to feedback submitted in the Aberdeen Student Experience Survey 2023/24, the University of Aberdeen has:

• Introduced an online Student of Concern form, allowing staff and students to easily share any concerns they have about a member of the student community. On receipt of this form, the Student Advice & Support team will contact both the individual of concern and the person who submitted the concern to offer support.
• Continued to raise awareness of the Counselling Service which is available to all students with minimal wait times.
• Enhanced our wellbeing offering across our libraries to include events such as Woofie Wednesdays, crafternoon, games afternoons and a programme of study and professional development information sessions. You will notice lots of jigsaws, games and arts and craft supplies to encourage you to take activity breaks when studying.
• Launched a project to review our services and support to ensure they are full accessible to all students in particular PGR and online students.
• Changed the format of the buddy scheme, our peer support initiative. The Buddy team now work in groups to welcome new students, allowing new students the opportunity to make new friends while benefitting from the knowledge of current students.

In response to feedback submitted in the Aberdeen Student Experience Survey in 2023/24, the University of Aberdeen has:

• Refurbished the 2^nd floor of the Sir Duncan Rice Library to provide more spaces for group, individual and silent study.
• Introduced zoning in the library to move collaborative spaces away from silent spaces.
• Launched Laptop Loan Lockers, allowing students to quickly and easily borrow a laptop using only their Student ID card.

In response to feedback submitted in the Aberdeen Student Experience Survey 2023/24, the University of Aberdeen has:

• Introduced an Adopt a Book initiative to support concerns around affordability of textbooks. The initiative encourages students to donate their used textbooks for the benefit of new students. Used books can be donated and collected at various times throughout the year. Adopt a Book is promoted widely on student channels.
• Created a dedicated Student Experience Organisation on MyAberdeen allowing students easy access to news, events and opportunities from the VLE.
• Improved the promotion of pre-registration events, creating a dedicated welcome week email for all new students to ensure they're fully aware of what's happening during welcome week including campus tours, which take place regularly throughout the week.
• Produced a detailed video tour of our accommodation with one of our friendly student ambassadors.
• Created opportunities for student volunteers to produce blogs and videos on their lived experiences in Aberdeen, from settling in to making friends and finding accommodation. This content will be shared on the Student Channel.

In response to feedback submitted in the Aberdeen Student Experience Survey 2023/24, the University of Aberdeen has:

• Optimised the abdn.ac.uk website for screen readers and reviewed colour palettes using our QA Tool
• As accessibility, inclusion and wellbeing working group has been established as part of the reimagining the campus project to review the accessibility on campus
• A new menu system on the website will be released soon as part of a new Content Management System. This will improve findability on the University website.