A blog by Rocco Williams, second year International Business student, on why surveys help students to make a big impact on university life.
The university is currently running two important surveys for students, the National Student Survey (NSS) for final year students and a mental health survey for all students. For many of us including myself navigating university life, it often feels like we’re caught in a relentless cycle, with our days filled to the brim with part-time work and looming essay deadlines with no time to spare. However, it is worth taking a few minutes to complete these if you can! There are a few main reasons why you should consider taking part in the surveys the university ask us to get involved in.
The power of our student voices
I’ve come to realise the immense power that our voices hold within the university sphere. It’s no secret that we, as students, have strong opinions about our academic experiences—ranging from the things that frustrate us to those that we genuinely appreciate. Being invited to share feedback through surveys is not just an opportunity; it’s our chance to be heard, to shape our educational journey. By airing our views, we highlight areas that need improvement, ensuring the university is aware of what’s not working as well as it could do for us. Participating in these surveys feels empowering. It’s an act of contributing to a larger dialogue. So, I see every survey as a blank canvas, offering us the chance to paint a more vibrant, inclusive, and responsive educational environment.
Helping yourself and others
By sharing our thoughts, we’re pointing out exactly where our university can do better, leading to improvements that make our campus life richer and more fulfilling. It’s a simple act with the power to transform our collective experience for the better. And the best part? We’ve already seen some incredible changes come to life because of our feedback.
One example of changes informed by student feedback is the University of Liverpool signing up to the Student Minds’ University Mental Health Charter Framework, which supports universities to make mental health a university-wide priority and sharing key practices and creating cultural change. The University Mental Health Charter will see the University adopt a university-wide approach to mental health and wellbeing. This includes a commitment to work with both students and staff to provide effective support, as well as creating an environment and culture that reduces poor mental health and promotes good mental health for the whole university community.
Other improvements brought in as a result of past student feedback include new features being added to the My Liverpool app, the introduction of Disability Coaches who are trained to help students access disability support at university, and more events in residential halls, which give new students in particular opportunities to mix and make friends.
Share your views anonymously
Lastly, the more reassuring part about sharing your thoughts through these surveys: it’s all anonymous. The university won’t know who said what, so you can be as honest as you want—no holding back. It’s the perfect chance to speak your mind freely and contribute to making our university a better place. So why not take this opportunity to share your honest feedback? After all, it’s our honesty that paves the way for genuine change.
Having just submitted my responses to the mental health survey, it’s empowering to think that my experiences and suggestions could lead to positive changes for my fellow students. We’re all in this together, after all, and if my insights can contribute to making our university a healthier, more supportive place, then it’s well worth it.
Looking ahead, I’m already eager to participate in the National Student Survey (NSS) when I reach my final year. It’s a unique opportunity to reflect on my entire university journey—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how I’ve grown along the way. It’s not just about rounding off my chapter at university; it’s about laying down the groundwork for the students after me. So, let’s embrace these opportunities to use our student voice and shape our university for the better.