In a notable achievement for the University of Hertfordshire, the institution has secured a top-tier position in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024, underlining its dedication to academic excellence and student satisfaction. With a remarkable fifth-place overall ranking among 108 participating institutions, the survey results underscore Hertfordshire’s strong commitment to providing a high-quality postgraduate experience.
The PTES, conducted by the higher education charity Advance HE, is a comprehensive evaluation of postgraduate taught students’ experiences. It covers various dimensions including satisfaction with support, teaching quality, community integration, and resource availability. The 2024 results highlight Hertfordshire University’s outstanding performance across all these key areas, demonstrating its holistic approach to postgraduate education.
Exceptional Performance Across Categories
Hertfordshire University has excelled in every category assessed by the PTES. The university achieved top ten rankings in each surveyed area, reflecting its strong performance and student-centered approach. Most notably, Hertfordshire earned the highest accolade for Support, a critical aspect of postgraduate education. This accolade signifies the university’s commitment to providing robust academic and personal support to its students, ensuring they have the resources and guidance needed to succeed in their studies.
In addition to leading in Support, the university secured the second spot for Community and Skills Development. This ranking highlights Hertfordshire’s efforts in fostering a vibrant academic community and offering opportunities for students to enhance their professional and personal skills. The university’s focus on building a supportive and engaging academic environment is evidently resonating with its postgraduate students.
Hertfordshire also achieved a commendable third place for Resources, underscoring the quality and availability of facilities and materials crucial for postgraduate studies. This high ranking reflects the university’s investment in state-of-the-art resources and infrastructure that facilitate advanced learning and research.
The university’s overall satisfaction score of 92% surpasses the sector average of 84%, emphasizing the positive impact of its initiatives on student satisfaction. This high score demonstrates that Hertfordshire not only meets but exceeds the expectations of its postgraduate students, offering a fulfilling and enriching educational experience.
In further categories, Hertfordshire ranked fifth for Overall Satisfaction, seventh for Teaching, and sixth for Engagement and Organisation. These rankings illustrate the university’s consistent excellence across different facets of postgraduate education. The strong showing in Teaching, in particular, indicates that students value the quality and effectiveness of instruction they receive.
High Engagement and Feedback Participation
The survey also highlighted Hertfordshire’s impressive engagement with its postgraduate students, evidenced by a response rate of 37.1%. This rate is notably higher than the sector average of 24.7%, reflecting a high level of student involvement and feedback participation. Such engagement is crucial for understanding and improving the postgraduate experience, and Hertfordshire’s strong response rate suggests that students feel valued and are keen to contribute to the development of their educational environment.
Sustained Excellence Across Surveys
Hertfordshire University’s success in the PTES is complemented by its continued excellence in the National Student Survey (NSS). The university was ranked first in the East of England for overall student positivity for the second consecutive year. This accolade reinforces Hertfordshire’s reputation for delivering a positive and supportive educational experience across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Dr. Charmagne Barnes, Pro Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Experience at the University of Hertfordshire, expressed her enthusiasm about the survey results. “These results are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff, who are committed to enhancing the postgraduate experience. We are delighted to see our efforts reflected in such positive feedback from our students,” Dr. Barnes stated. She further emphasized that the university’s focus on providing comprehensive support, fostering a strong community, and maintaining high teaching standards is central to its approach to postgraduate education.
Strength in Diverse Academic Disciplines
The PTES results also highlight Hertfordshire’s strength across various academic disciplines. Both the Law and Medicine faculties received notable recognition, with both disciplines ranking third in their respective fields with a satisfaction rate of 92%. This acknowledgment reflects the university’s commitment to delivering high-quality education and support in diverse areas of study, ensuring that students across all disciplines benefit from exceptional academic resources and guidance.
Looking Ahead
The outstanding PTES 2024 results position the University of Hertfordshire as a leader in postgraduate education, demonstrating its commitment to student satisfaction and academic excellence. The university’s achievements in the survey are a clear indication of its success in creating a supportive, engaging, and high-quality educational environment for its postgraduate students.
As the university looks to the future, it remains dedicated to building on its successes and continuing to enhance the postgraduate experience. The strong performance in the PTES serves as both a recognition of current achievements and a motivation to further advance its programs and support systems.
In summary, the University of Hertfordshire’s top rankings in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024 reflect its unwavering commitment to providing an outstanding postgraduate education. With high scores in critical areas such as Support, Community, and Resources, and strong performance across various disciplines, the university stands out as a beacon of excellence in the higher education sector.
UH Student News 