Encouraging postgraduate student feedback with PTES 2023

Colleagues are asked to help promote the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2023, which is open from 15 May-16 June.

This is the only UK higher education sector-wide survey to gain insight from taught postgraduate students about their learning and teaching experience.

It covers the following topics:

• Teaching and learning
• Engagement
• Assessment and feedback
• Organisation and management
• Skills development

Why is PTES so important?

Dr Paul Jenkins, Associate Professor in Psychology, says: “PTES represents a really useful opportunity to gather data on the views of all postgraduate students, individuals who are often not afforded the same opportunities for feedback as those completing the, perhaps more widely known, NSS. Obtaining good-quality data from PTES is important in ensuring that the views of postgraduate students are asked for, and listened to.”

Declining response rates

Over the last couple of years, PTES response rates have remained low in the sector. The University of Reading sits in the bottom quarter for response rates across all participating institutions (highest – 67.2%; lowest – 3.6%).

For the University to use this data more confidently, we need an increase in response rates. This survey is particularly useful for promoting programmes at open days, to benchmark our standing in the sector and to help us improve our programme offering.

What can you do to help increase response rates?

Colleagues are invited to help promote the survey and how it can influence change to your students.

A selection of useful tips and assets have been prepared to help you do so, which we will be sharing via a dedicated Teams channel. Email s.c.anderson@reading.ac.uk to be added to this channel.

More information on PTES can be found on the Advance HE website.