For the first time ever students have spoken out in their thousands about their non-academic experiences at Cardiff University.
Although the university-wide study is still being conducted, early results indicate that there are many areas that the University and the Union could improve.
Sports facilities, the use of flyers as a method of communication and relations with the Heath were among the main subjects for complaint in the Union-commissioned survey.
The quality of the Union-run support services like the Advice and Representative Centre was highly praised by a huge number of students, as was the entertainment provisions in Solus and the Taf.
The ‘Student Satisfaction’ survey, which is the first of its kind to focus on purely non-academic experiences, has generated nearly 3,000 responses so far.
Questions were asked on all areas of student life, such as accommodation, social life and the quality of services the Union has to offer.
The results of the research will be of particular interest to the newly elected sabbatical team, who will be in place by the end of the week.
Top of the list of complaints was the quality of the transport and sports facilities offered by the Athletic Union and the University.
Around half the students who completed the study at the time of gair rhydd going to print claimed that the facilities on offer are average or below average.
Many students said that the Union needs to spend more money improving the quality and range of sports equipment. They also made it clear that they want the University to take sport more seriously.
Joe Al-Khayat, Students’ Union President, agreed. He said: “The fact many respondents felt our sport facilities were below-par obviously confirms why the Invest in Sport campaign is so important and why this crucial campaign must continue.”
The quality of the AU transport facilities on offer was also attacked and a number of students claimed that many of their activities had to be cancelled because they could not hire a minibus.
Another common complaint focused on the distributing of flyers outside the Union. Students argued that advertising for Union events should not be done like this as it was environmentally unfriendly and made the area around the Union look untidy. Many also believed that it did not align with the pro-recycling policy that the Union have.
Al-Khayat also agreed with these comments too: “The issue of leaflets and flyers is an obvious concern and although recycling provisions have been improved around the Union this year, it’s important that we continue to make progress in this area for the presentation of the building and indeed the environment.”
The survey also produced shocking results about the satisfaction of students situated on the Heath Park campus.
Complaints were mainly focused on the lack of integration of the Heath with the main campus.
It is hoped that the creation of the non-sabbatical role of Heath Park Campus Officer will address these problems.
Al-Khayat said: “The feedback from students based at the Heath site clearly illustrates that we must work harder to communicate more effectively some of the key activities and services offered by the Students’ Union and. in addition, work harder to represent these students and their concerns. We are pleased with the introduction of the Heath Park Campus Officer at this year’s AGM, and hope this can serve to address some of the challenges in this area.
What is pleasing to see is that many of the candidates this year are discussing communication with the Heath Campus at great length in their manifestos, so I hope that we as a Union can now begin to progress in this area and reach out to our Heath students more effectively.”
However, although many areas were criticised, Union-run facilities such as the Advice and Representation Centre received especially high praise, with nearly every student saying that they were provided with a good service.
The choice of entertainment offered by the Union also scored very highly.
The full results of the ‘Student Satisfaction’ survey will be released by gair rhydd when they study is complete.
Any student who wants to have their say on these issues after the survey closes can visit the Union’s website, cardiffstudents.com.
