Beyond the numbers: Identifying and supporting students through sentiment analysis
By Dr Helena Lim, PFHEA, Academic Lead, evasys UK
The discourse surrounding higher education funding and sustainability is inextricably linked to student retention. As Alastair Jarvis rightly points out in his Wonkhe blog, “How do we start to fix university funding?”, a renewed focus on student success is paramount. We’ve become proficient at gathering data, at tracking engagement and performance. Yet, are we truly listening to the student voice?
Dr Helena Lim
In an era where wellbeing and mental health are rightfully prioritised, a more nuanced approach is required. It’s time to move beyond simple aggregate metrics and embrace the power of sentiment analysis, specifically through the implementation of a Survey Sentiment Indicator (SSI). Jarvis’s call for a sustainable model resonates deeply with the necessity of fostering an environment where students not only enrol, but progress and flourish. At evasys, we believe that student success is not just a metric; it’s a mission, and we provide the tools to achieve it.
The power of proactive engagement
The journey to student success begins before arrival. As evidenced by Middlesex University’s pre-arrival process, a well-structured onboarding can significantly impact student arrival and retention, particularly beyond the critical six-week mark. This demonstrates the importance of early engagement and proactive support. Furthermore, lessons learnt from the Being, Belonging, Becoming (BBB) survey pilot highlight the efficacy of directly addressing student intentions to withdraw. The approach of proactively engaging with students who express concerns, as implemented by institutions like Leeds Trinity, underscores the power of timely intervention.
Our platform has long been a trusted tool for institutions seeking to gather and analyse crucial feedback. It provides the means to collect comprehensive data on student experiences, from course satisfaction to broader institutional perceptions. However, we recognise that data alone is insufficient. We must move beyond simple reporting and embrace the power of sentiment analysis to unlock deeper insights.
Introducing the Survey Sentiment Indicator (SSI)
Imagine a system that can identify students whose underlying sentiment suggests vulnerability. This is the promise of the SSI. It is no longer solely about aggregating survey responses by organisational entity or other groupings; it is about interpreting the emotional undercurrents within them.
The SSI is a powerful composite score that blends a student’s quantitative ratings with deep insights from their qualitative feedback. By aggregating responses to quantitative questions – probing feelings of belonging, academic confidence and overall well-being – and, thanks to our partnership with Student Voice AI, incorporating analysis of the qualitative, open comments, we can construct an indicator that reflects the mood of individual students and the collective mood of the student body.
Targeting high-risk students
This SSI can then be used to identify two crucial groups, allowing for focused, proactive support:
Where the average response to crucial questions falls into negative territory, a flag is raised, prompting proactive intervention.
The SSI can be integrated with existing Learning Analytics (LA) systems. By aggregating survey responses at the student level and feeding them into LA systems, institutions can provide a more complete picture to those providing student engagement and tutoring, leading to more effective interventions. This integration addresses the “why” behind the numbers, providing a holistic view of the student experience.
Evidence and return on investment
Naturally, introducing a new approach requires addressing potential concerns. Some may view sentiment analysis as subjective or difficult to quantify. However, the data speaks for itself. Universities like Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), referenced by Jarvis, demonstrate the efficacy of proactive, data-driven interventions in boosting retention. We must emphasise that the SSI is not a replacement for existing metrics but a valuable complement. It offers a deeper understanding of the student experience, allowing us to tailor support and foster a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.
Furthermore, we must highlight the return on investment. Increased retention translates to improved student outcomes, enhanced institutional reputation and, ultimately, a more sustainable higher education sector. The evasys platform provides the tools to demonstrate this ROI through comprehensive reporting and analytics, including the tracking of educational gain questions over time, as seen at the University of Hertfordshire.
Why the SSI Signals a New Approach to Student Retention
The SSI represents a paradigm shift in how we approach student retention and well-being. It’s about moving beyond simply measuring engagement to understanding the emotional landscape of our students. By combining the power of data with the insights gleaned from student sentiment, facilitated by evasys’ powerful platform, we can create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student can succeed. It’s time to innovate to support student success.