Minister launches students' experience report during Mayo GMIT visit

THE Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today published the Eurostudent VI study, the sixth report of its kind into how students experience university life, while visiting Mayo GMIT campus in Castlebar.

Over 20,000 students attending higher education institutions were surveyed as part of the report. Overall the report found high levels of overall student satisfaction with the quality of teaching, the timetabling of studies and the facilities of the institution.

Furthermore, students appear to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them from their institution.

Students also report high levels of ‘fitting into’ higher education and appear to have few doubts that higher education was the right choice for them.

This is further demonstrated by most students reporting that they would recommend their choice of programme to other students.

The Minister stated: “Having access to high quality data, and hearing more from students on their experience of higher education is critical to inform sound policy decisions to ensure we are doing the right things for our student cohort. This report gives us a student perspective or ‘voice’ which is of critical importance.”