Posted on by Cristina Devecchi New Projects

More than grades: how to add ‘value’ to a university experience

The issue of how to value the impact that universities have on students is a major bone of contention. Mainly measured in terms of ‘value for money’, a number of methods and a plethora of metrics are available, but each one gives us only one aspect of a much more complicated picture. In this blog some of such ways of valuing are reviewed so to argue that a more comprehensive value system can be put in place to the benefit of students, universities and the wider community.

Just future earnings?

The value and currency of a university degree has been under question for a while and more so since  the rise in tuition fees. Common ways to put a ‘price tag’ on the future gains of a university degree is mainly calculated through the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey. The survey focuses on the number of students gaining graduate employment six months from graduation. While future earnings can be a measure of the impact of gaining a degree, there are a number of weakness in just relying on them. The first is that gaining employment within such a short time is dependent upon the wider economic context. The second is that there are well-established patterns which favour higher initial earning for students from some universities. Third, the survey does not take into account the choices that individuals make some of whom might decide not to seek graduate employment as a career progression. Fourth, there is a possible mismatch between how some types of job, mainly in education and social care and mainly carried out by women, are labelled as graduate employment and the knowledge and expertise they actually require. 

Just satisfaction?

Another common and no way less contentious way to measure the benefits of a university experience is through the National Student Survey. The survey, composed of 27 questions, is designed to elicit students’ views on the teaching and learning they experienced (http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/content/NSS2017_Core_Questionnaire.pdf). Yet, this covers only one aspect of a university experience and does not provide us with evidence of how the experience has had an impact on the student while at university or beyond. Another limitation of the survey is that ‘satisfaction’ is a at best a proxy and at worst time bound. While this argument does not diminish the argument about satisfaction and personal experience, it challenges the limited set of evidence such a survey can elicit. More importantly, the survey can be of used to rank universities, but how does it enable the individual student to show the full range of experiences she or she was involved in and their benefits?

The points above pose a question of how to ‘measure’ the value of a university degree beyond the seemingly tangible future earnings or reductive satisfaction surveys.

The comprehensive university experience: making the intangible count

There is clearly more to a university experience than the grades one gains and the content one learns. There is more to how a university experience impacts on graduates than just future earnings. As valuable as these two criteria are, they do not capture a number of so far intangible aspects of a university experience. For example, we value voluntary work, or support for the internal and external community, or simply being supportive of colleagues and fellow students. We also value the effort we put in achieving what is important to us. We also value showing the hard and soft employability skills we learn and apply. Yet, although valuable, such activities are intangible and therefore difficult to capture in a CV, at best, and lost, at worst. There are of course ways to make such experiences tangible, such as awards, certificates, prizes. But do they actually make what we value and the value we can bring visible, tangible, concrete?

One metric to capture value/s

Capturing the intangible contributions we make and the way in which being at university contributes to adding value requires to think differently. It requires to think differently about what is of value, how to assess it, and how to trace the way in which value was co-created through the many experiences to be had while at university. Combining both hard metrics and the Personal Value metrics, the CCEG Blockchain UN Lab is developing a method to make visible the transaction and worth of intangible and non-financial values using a unique combination of Blockchain Technology and the Social Earnings Ratio. The aim is that of developing objectively derived indicators and metrics to combine a variety of experiences, contributions and gains to show how being at university contributed to personal growth while also contributing to the growth and wellbeing of the university and wider communities. Through the Blockchain technology, the CCEG Blockchain UN Lab is seeking to make visible the journey through which that growth has occurred so to create a personalised passport as a testimony of value added, value for money and, most importatnly, value creation.

 

 

1,184 thoughts on “More than grades: how to add ‘value’ to a university experience”

  6. splendid information in your blog, thanks for taking the time to proportion with us. Great perception you’ve got in this, it’s nice to find a internet site that info so much statistics about distinctive artists.

    먹튀검증사이트

  7. i am typically to runnne. Leading is alternatively handy element. You may have severely made it less difficult for lots folks that seem to test web page and provide those parents usefull data and records

    지울프-토토

  8. I have been looking for articles on these topics for a long time. safetoto I don’t know how grateful you are for posting on this topic. Thank you for the numerous articles on this site, I will subscribe to those links in my bookmarks and visit them often. Have a nice day

  10. Thanks for the nice blog post. Thanks to you,
    I learned a lot of information. There is also a lot of information
    on my website, and I upload new information every day.
    visit my blog too
    먹튀검증

  17. Thank you for landing this big opportunity! I’m so happy for you. The world is full of people who deserve the same opportunities that you’ve been given, but you don’t have to give up because there are so many more people out there who need your help

    스포츠토토존

  19. Good to Now about that exciting blog I have bookmarked your site to Know about the latest interesting update on your site. I am excited to tell you about the South African drama soap it’s a very interesting and entertaining place for everyone
    카지노

  25. Thanks for sharing superb informations. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles.Please visit my web site.Best Isla Mujeres Airport Transfers service provider.

  26. Hello, Nice post. After checking out a few of the articles on your web site, I seriously like your technique of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my web site.Asus Rog Flow Z13 Screen Protector service provider.

  32. The Leather Fur Jacket is the ultimate in high fashion, as it combines the toughness of leather with the lavishness of fur. This wonderful outerwear item will keep you warm and cozy on the coldest of days. The outside shell is often made from high-quality leather, which gives the jacket durability and a sleek finish; however, the addition of fur lining or embellishments takes the jacket to a whole new level of visual appeal.

  33. Thank you for sharing this post. This information is exactly what I needed for the past month. I truly value your effort in providing this.If you are a student then, I am a Assignment Help provider with the team of experts. With a team of experienced experts, we cover a wide range of subjects and topics, ensuring your assignments are well-researched, error-free, and delivered on time. We prioritize quality and guarantee original, plagiarism-free work, providing you with a competitive edge in your studies. Our commitment to student success is unwavering, and our services are affordable. Whether you’re struggling with essays, projects, or research papers, trust us to elevate your academic performance and reduce your stress. Your academic success is our priority.

  44. Lindo post. Eu costumava verificar constantemente este blog e estou impressionado! Informação extremamente útil, particularmente a última secção 🙂 Eu me ocupo muito dessa informação.

    https://www.sportstotozone.com/
    Eu estava procurando esta informação certa por muito tempo. Obrigado e boa sorte.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *