The study environment is flourishing at Health, but there are still problems

“In general, I feel comfortable as a student here.” Ninety per cent of the students at Health can answer yes to this. Students at Health are also satisfied with their degree programme, which they would recommend to others; they are taught subjects that they want to involve themselves in; and they are also looking forward to graduating and applying their education (94 per cent).

Every third year, stock is taken of the study environment at AU. The recently published figures from the study environment survey 2017 show a high level of academic well-being among the students at Health. This picture is largely in line with the survey results from 2014, with small differences of no more than a few percentage points. 

More study groups and more space for them

There is more good news to be pleased about. 92 per cent feel that they can get help and support from their fellow students, which is an increase from the last study environment survey (87 per cent). More than half of the students at Health (66 per cent) have a study partner or are part of a study group. Bachelor’s degree students at public health are especially good at forming academic communities – with no less than 96 per cent in a study group.

"There is good learning in supporting each other academically, so it is positive to see so many of our students making use of and helping one another, also away from the actual teaching situation," says Vice-dean for Education Charlotte Ringsted.

She is pleased to see that the survey results show progress in the students' assessment of the physical study environment. The figure has increased from 48 per cent in 2014 to 63 per cent in 2017. Since the last study environment survey, initiatives such as more space being created for group work in the Victor Albeck Building, have been completed.

Almost one in five are stressed

There is also a downside. And this year the downside is once again stress and a lack of feedback from the lecturers. 18 per cent of all Health students experience severe stress symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia and heart palpitations in connection with their studies – and not only before exams, but also in everyday situations. This equates to a small increase of two percentage points.

"Our students are generally very happy and satisfied, and that is good. But one thing I notice is that almost one in five students experience severe stress symptoms. That is far too many. Unfortunately, it is a general problem for the whole university which we need to explore in more detail," says Charlotte Ringsted

New forms of feedback

There is also the issue of lack of feedback from the lecturers, which again this year is a negative aspect of the results. Just 18 per cent think there are good possibilities for feedback on academic performance at exams, and half of the students find it very difficult to get an impression of whether they are doing well in the subjects.

"This may be caused by the fact that part of the teaching is traditional lectures, where the students are not directly involved and therefore do not receive individual feedback during the lectures. But there are many new initiatives underway to provide increased teaching that involves the students more," says Charlotte Ringsted and continues:

"For example, parts of the teaching on the Master's degree programme has been overhauled. We also need to look at how we can use quizzes or different tests to give the students information about their level and progression, so we are working to create a better framework for dialogue and feedback."

The results from the study environment survey 2017 are currently being discussed in various forums, including the faculty management team and the boards of studies, before new initiatives are put to work. 

Resultaterne fra studiemiljøundersøgelsen 2017 bliver nu behandlet i forskellige fora bl.a. fakultetsledelsen og studienævnene, og herefter sættes der nye initiativer i gang.

Read more about the study environment at AU and see all the results from the study environment survey 2017. 

Contact

Vice-dean for education, Charlotte Ringsted
Aarhus University, Health
Tel.: 93 50 82 22
Mail: charlotte.ringsted@au.dk