Blue by Explorance
Dear Colleagues,
As you may be aware, in recent months the Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQ) project team have been involved in a procurement exercise which resulted in selecting the best solution to replace the current system, Evasys. The assessment revealed Blue, Cloud-based software provided by Explorance, as the best solution for module feedback and analytics. The contract was signed on 18thJune.
We have engaged with the vendor to provide detailed requirements (configuration, integrations, reporting) and agree the implementation plan, which should allow us to launch end of semester surveys in November 2025, followed by the pulse surveys in February 2026.
The focus of the project is on credit-bearing modules (both in-person and distance learning) which follow a semestral pattern of delivery. Following the successful completion of this project, the scope will be expanded to ensure that all modules (asynchronous, short-courses, micro-credentials) are surveyed via Blue.
Objectives of the project
The project is focused on implementing a new approach to module feedback delivered by new, more modern and intuitive software – Blue by Explorance. The new approach, rebranded as Module Feedback Questionnaires or MFQs, will introduce a mid-semester pulse survey to complement the traditional end-of-module surveys, with streamlined question sets to promote engagement.
A partnership approach between staff and student representatives will be taken to gather module feedback in mid-semester pulse surveys. New mechanisms will be introduced through Blue to facilitate timely closure of the feedback loop so that our students feel heard and can see the value in providing feedback to inform module review and enhancement.
The new system
Blue is user-friendly for both staff and students. The system holds a central bank of questions which can be automatically cascaded across our module offering, whilst still giving staff the flexibility to select additional questions and allows the Education and Student Experience team to amend opening and closing dates as required for individual modules. The system supports delivery of pulse surveys early in the module in addition to traditional end of module surveys and can link response data between the two, helping to demonstrate the impact of changes made in response to student feedback.
What it means to students
Students will find the new system intuitive, with the added benefit of providing feedback during the module – not just at the end. This real-time feedback will be instantly accessible to staff once the survey is closed, giving them time to make meaningful improvements. The more students engage with the process, the richer and more impactful the insights will be.
What it means to teaching staff
Teaching staff will be able to access response rates and module feedback data in real time. Analysis of module feedback data will be available to staff immediately upon survey closure, facilitating easy access to student responses and allowing timely closure of the feedback loop.
General benefits
Key benefits are expected in the following areas:
- Higher student response rates will generate richer insights into the student experience, enabling data-driven improvements that are expected to boost overall satisfaction.
- Removal of outdated software requiring significant manual intervention will reduce risk and result in substantial efficiencies for Academic and Professional Services staff.
- Compliance with the QAA recommendation to improve module evaluation and feedback mechanisms.
How to get involved?
We are looking for staff and students to take part in user acceptance testing which is planned to take place in September 2025.If you would like to get involved, please contact the Project Manager:
Kamila Brady [email protected]
Staff training is scheduled to take place in advance of the launch, in October. Further details will be communicated in due course.
Access to the system will be granted at the appropriate time and the Team will be in touch about this in the coming weeks.
We’d appreciate if you could disseminate this email to all who should be aware of this change in your School.
Regards,
Professor Clare Peddie, Vice-Principal Education (Proctor)