Student Research Experience Questionnaire (SREQ)

Data on the research higher degree students’ perceptions of their research training experiences is gathered every two years using the Student Research Experience Questionnaire (SREQ). This survey is distributed to all currently enrolled research higher degree students, with a response rate of over 70%.

The purpose of the SREQ is to provide the University community with a basis for strategic, faculty level academic development and curriculum review to further enhance the quality of research higher degrees. Analysis of this data provides a comprehensive picture of trends in the student experience, and the performance of the University in relation to two of the University’s Key Performance Indicators for research: Supervision and Overall Satisfaction with the research higher degree; and other related areas: Infrastructure; Research Climate; and Graduate Attributes/ Generic Skills.

Written observations, from respondents to the survey, about their experiences provide evidence to support faculty SREQ quantitative data results (percentage agreement scores), and provide detailed information about key issues in the areas of best practice and areas needing improvement, during their research training experience. The results are directly aligned with the scales and survey items used in the SREQ, with the addition of items that occur frequently in student comments.

Faculty and University Reports

Based on the responses to both the survey items (quantitative data) and open questions (qualitative data), the Graduate Studies Office has been preparing and distributing analytical and trends reports on the research higher degree student experience institutionally and by faculty for a number of years. The SEG Research Training Committee position paper: Closing the Loop: disseminating the results and reports of the Student Research Experience Questionnaire provides strategies for ensuring that these reports are widely disseminated to senior management, staff and students.

Responding to the reports: strategies and initiatives

Faculties are asked to address issues raised by students in their responses to the SREQ, and provide reports to the SEG Research Training Committee, outlining the strategies and initiatives that they would use to improve the research higher degree student experience, and communicate the results across the faculty. They were also asked to suggest improvements to the report. These reports are available here.

Faculty response summaries

The following documents provide summaries of faculty responses to the SREQ:

• Overall response to the report
• Strategies and initiatives to improve the student experience
• Communicating strategies for disseminating the results to academic staff, students and administrative personnel
• How the reports can be improved

What is the University doing

The University’s Research Training Committee also looked at the reports and identified collaboration and interdisciplinary interaction of students and staff across a wide range of research areas as one of the areas in need of improvement. In 2012, the University will convene a research higher degree student focussed event. The following activities may be incorporated into the event:

• Research training workshops for students, including integrity training
• Cross disciplinary research seminars, involving both staff and students
• Guest speakers from industry and politics
• Presentations by the best of our students, and the best of our staff
• Inclusion of the 3 Minute Thesis competition.