Course evaluation with EvaSys at the University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews in Scotland has established a reputation as one of Europe's leading and most distinctive centres for teaching and research. Previously, while run centrally, academics requested their own individualised questionnaire resulting in over 1,000 unique versions with ensuing difficulties in longitudinal comparison of the quality of delivery and content of the module. The University established that a review of the feedback system and an overhaul of the process was needed. As a result, Electric Paper's EvaSys was purchased by St Andrews in November 2010 and used to produce that semester's module evaluations. In addition, a core set of questions was developed to include compulsory questions relating to modules, individual lecturers and individual tutors, supported by a maximum of eight optional questions from a pool of 16. Once completed, the questionnaires were scanned and instant analysis reports produced. Reports were automatically emailed to module coordinators and to lecturers to receive individual feedback tied to the internal review of teaching and learning. This alerted senior management to any areas of concern, and to identify good practice that deserved commendation and dissemination. "The introduction of EvaSys has simplified the module feedback process immensely," said Carol Morris, Director of the Centre for Academic, Professional and Organisational Development at St Andrews. "Results are now available in days rather than months allowing more time to monitor quality and implement enhancements to teaching and learning."

