Module Evaluation Questionnaires Project
Introduction
This article introduces the Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQ) Project, explaining how the project started and the work that has been completed to date, where we are now, and what the plans are for the future.
Where it started
Following a prolonged period of low response rates from students (leading to a difficulty in obtaining meaningful feedback to enhance modules), the previous Associate Deans Education were tasked with conducting a review of our MEQs to understand the reasons for this and to bring back recommendations for how we might address this problem. In July 2024 a paper was brought to the Education Strategic Management Group (ESMG) outlining a new approach which would revise the question set and introduce a feedback loop to make the process more meaningful and engaging for students, and to ensure that feedback can be used to enhance our modules.
Whilst this work was underway, the Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR) conducted by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in January 2024 also set out an action for us to review our MEQ process to ‘support a more consistent and diverse level of engagement with students…[and] implement strategies that actively enhance student engagement and completion rates with MEQs, ensuring the collection of data that will facilitate the timely implementation of targeted improvements to further enhance the overall learning experience for students’.
Where are we now?
Our current Associate Deans Education picked up the work started by their predecessors and led activities to gather feedback on the proposed new approach to MEQs from the EDI team, Directors of Teaching, and student representatives via the Education Committee (EduCom), with support from Education and Student Experience and the Student’s Association Director of Education. Based on this feedback the proposal and question set were updated and subsequently approved by ESMG and the Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) on 5 March 2025.
Key features of the new approach:
- Change in nomenclature from Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs) to Module Feedback Questionnaires (MFQs) to more accurately reflect the purpose of these surveys.
- Introduction of an additional mid-semester pulse survey allowing staff to act on student feedback during the module.
- More streamlined question sets to promote engagement.
- Increased partnership approach to gathering and evaluating module feedback between staff and student representatives.
- A mechanism to ensure timely closure of the feedback loop so that our students feel heard and can see the value in providing feedback to inform module enhancements.
A review of our existing MEQ software, Evasys, found that this outdated and cumbersome software, originally designed for the delivery of paper-based questionnaires, would not be able to support delivery of the improved approach to MEQs, and we started looking at alternative options from the leading providers of course evaluation software in the HE sector.
Benefits of new MEQ software:
- Support delivery of the new approach to module evaluation.
- Compliance with the QAA recommendation to improve MEQs.
- Improved student experience leading to better engagement and improved response rates, helping the University to make meaningful module enhancements based on student feedback.
- Removal of outdated software requiring significant manual intervention resulting in substantial efficiencies for Academic and Professional Services staff.
The outline business case requesting investment in new software to support delivery of the new approach was approved by the Business Transformation Board (BTB) in February 2025. The full business case requesting approval to procure the Explorance Blue course evaluation software was subsequently approved by BTB in April 2025.
Next steps
Work has begun on procurement and the project team plan to implement the new software over the summer vacation period with a view to delivering the new approach to MEQs in S1 of AY2025/26. This work will include the installation, integration, configuration and testing of the new system alongside associated work to update related processes, guidance documents, and webpages, and the provision of training and support.
The project team is led by Dee McDougall-Bagnall under the sponsorship of the VP Education (Proctor), Professor Clare Peddie. For further information, please contact the project lead, Dee, at [email protected].