Keele named University of the Year for Student Experience
Keele University is the ‘University of the Year for Student Experience’ in The Times and The Sunday Times annual University of the Year awards 2017.
Having topped the table for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey for three consecutive years and ranking first for student satisfaction with their course in the Guardian University guide, students have again rated Keele’s experience as exceptional, earning it the title of University of the Year for Student Experience for consistent excellence.
Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice Chancellor of Keele University said: “We are very proud of this achievement as it reflects the priority we give to putting our students at the heart of everything we do. From our academic programmes to our sports facilities and social programme, we recognise the complexity of our students’ needs and I am personally very proud of the way that all our staff at Keele respond to this challenge.”
Alistair McCall, editor of The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “Throughout its history, Keele has offered a distinctive university experience for its lucky students. It was notable first for its unusual course combinations but in the past decade the annual National Student Survey has flagged up different merits to the wider public.
“One of the most beautiful campuses in the UK provides an inviting backdrop, but it is the efforts that the university has gone to in providing an outstanding student experience that this award recognises. Students not only have a great time while they are at university, but are equipped with the skills – both academic and non-academic – that allow them to go on to make great successes of themselves when they leave.”
Emily Horsfall, KeeleSU Union Development and Democracy Officer said: “With 27,000 hours of varied volunteering completed, £63,000 raised for various charities over the year, and over 150 sports teams and societies, there’s plenty to get involved in at Keele. Even during academic studies, students can build a course and time here around what they want to do and what they want to learn.
“The unique nature of our courses, which include specialist, integrated and combined degree programmes and flexible electives, means that there is so much opportunity to expand your knowledge and explore something new. At Keele, we feel that there is a place for everyone in our community; it’s more than an education, it’s an experience.”
The guide has praised Keele’s beautiful campus and its contribution to the distinctive environment, with many students and staff living on a campus which includes an arboretum and has won a clutch of environmental and sustainability awards. Sustainability is a key institutional priority, with a holistic whole institution approach across all activities, including embedding sustainability in curricula and all undergraduates having the opportunity to take a module in sustainability.
Keele was in the top 10 universities for growth in 2015, and has ambitious plans for continued growth over the next five years. With ongoing transformation and investment in its campus, along with its approach to education - integrating voluntary and sporting activities as well as the academic core - Keele continues to put students at the heart of its strategy.
The Good University Guide will be published in The Sunday Times on Sunday 25th September, with further supplements and subject guides in the Times on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th September.