Postgraduate feedback and reporting

Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting

As part of this project, the Self-Evaluation scheme has been expanded to include doctoral students as well as those registered for the MLitt, MSc, MPhil, MRes, MEd degrees and the CPGS.

New functionality was introduced in October 2018 to support supervisors complete their Michaelmas term supervision reports.

October 2018

The situation

Feedback from supervisors is an important part of a postgraduate student's experience at Cambridge. Many people are involved in the processes involved in student feedback: students, supervisors, College Tutors, Degree Committees and the Student Registry.  A recent student survey and internal audit have revealed that the completion rates of supervision reports is low and that levels of awareness and engagement with the reporting and student self-evaluation systems are inconsistent around the Collegiate University. 

The current processes around providing and processing feedback and reporting are cumbersome for students and supervisors. All parties need better access and visibility, especially when there are issues. Furthermore, PhD registration is undertaken within the feedback system which is not the logical place for this. 

Project aims

By Michaelmas 2019:

  • Increase the average completion rate of supervision reports from 26% to 70%
  • Increase student satisfaction with the Feedback and Reporting System so that the number of neutral or positive scores increases from 37% to 70%
  • Increase the average completion rate of Self Evaluation reports by students from 51% to 60%

Improvements

To achieve these outcomes:

  • The current reporting system, CGSRS, was replaced in October 2018 with a new online system, Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting System (PFRS), with more user friendly reports and better reminders and notifications
  • From Michaelmas term in 2018, more postgraduate students are able to submit reflective reports called Self Evaluation reports, not just MPhil students
  • The PhD registration process was separated from reporting, moving into a different area of CamSIS

Improvements scheduled for 2019:

  • Supervisors, students, departments and degree committees will be able to submit reports to raise a concern and/or highlight issues at any time of the calendar year to prompt further discussion offline
  • Key individuals will be made aware when reports have been submitted

CamCORS, the system used for Undergraduate student reporting and feedback, will not be impacted by this project.

Benefits for students, supervisors and administration staff

The work is expected to result in several benefits, including:

  • Students will have a clearer view of their progress as reports will be made available to them immediately
  • It will be clearer to supervisors how many - and which - reports they need to complete
  • More students will have an opportunity to formally reflect on their progress in their first term of study

Project Board

Name and job titleName and job titleRole on Project BoardRole on Project BoardName and job titleKate Maxwell
Senior User LeadRole on Project BoardProject SponsorName and job titleKerri Gardiner
Head of Graduate Student AdministrationRole on Project BoardBusiness LeadName and job titleBernard Devereux
Graduate Admissions Tutor, Hughes HallRole on Project BoardUser LeadName and job titleNeil Jones
Director of Studies in Law (Tripos)Role on Project BoardUser LeadName and job titleSofia Ropex Hewson 
President of the Graduate UnionRole on Project BoardUser LeadName and job titleLitsa Biggs
Secretary of the Faculty Board of Clinical MedicineRole on Project BoardProgramme Board LeadName and job titleMark Rowland
Programme ManagerRole on Project BoardSupplier LeadName and job titleSigne Jensen
Senior Project ManagerRole on Project BoardProject Manager