National Student Survey Framework

The implementation of a National Student Survey System has been identified as a priority deliverable (recommendation number 2) of the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.

An application for a NAIRTL grant was successfully made in 2011 by the IUA Institutional Research Officers Group. The project network also included representatives from the HEA, IoTI, IUA and USI (members details listed on the left). The project proposed to deliver a framework for the National Student Survey System thereby advancing delivery on the recommendation of the National Strategy for Higher Education. 

The project scope included:

• Elicitation of requirements
• An assessment of 
  - existing national student survey systems used in other countries
  - existing models used within the Irish higher education
  - existing infrastructure (tools and software) to deliver a proposed national survey
• Active engagement with stakeholders throughout the project duration
• Pilot testing and evaluation 

A project timeline was agreed to (project schedule)

To ensure effective project stewardship and to maximise success, the key principles being adopted by the project team included:

• Inclusion of higher education stakeholders from across the sector from project initiation 
• Leveraging of existing networks, groups, tools and infrastructure to ensure existing expertise within the sector is exploited and to ensure maximum value for money 
• Exploitation of best practice models nationally and internationally to avoid duplication and to ensure timely delivery of national strategy objectives

Summary of Steering Workgroup Meetings:
Meeting held 28/09/2011
Meeting held 20/10/2011
Meeting held 24/11/2011
Meeting held 12/12/2011
Meeting held 09/02/2012
Meeting held 06/03/2012

INSS Project Final Report
The final report of the National Student Survey Framework is now available to download from here. This report gives an overview of the survey framework while also identifiying the challenges and recommendations relating to conducting a national student survey. The report provides a firm basis for the next phase of the development of the Irish National Survey System to be progressed by the newly constituted project structure.