Leading article: Student survey is welcome
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bill Rammell, the minister for higher education, says that the information could be used to keep universities on their toes. It could even lead to the closure of unpopular courses where the teaching quality was not rated highly enough. He might be right. Overall, this year's survey is remarkably good public relations for the higher education sector. It gives a pat on the back to teaching standards, saying that more than 80 per cent of students expressed themselves satisfied. What matters to prospective students is how, say, Sheffield compares with Southampton or Bath with Loughborough. Sufficient differences exist between institutions to allow "satisfaction" league tables to be compiled. Institutions at the bottom could find themselves given a wide berth.
This year neither Oxford nor Cambridge nor - for the most part - Warwick University entered the survey. But these institutions are expected to come in from the cold. They would be wrong to dismiss the whole exercise. At a time when top-up fees are being introduced, it is welcome that all students will have access to information that is impartial. Let us hope that the universities don't become too adept at persuading undergraduates to talk up their courses on the grounds that, if they didn't, the university - and their degrees - would suffer in the reputation stakes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments