Salford University has ranked 126th out of 152 universities in the new National Student Survey which is based on final year student satisfaction. The league table puts Salford 65 places behind Bolton University, fifty places behind Southampton Solent and 32 places behind Leeds Trinity.
"It was thought that the University could not get any worse. But the latest results prove that it can..." one member of staff told the Salford Star.
Writing to staff about the results, Dr Sam Grogan Pro Vice-Chancellor, Student Experience, states that it was a "mixed result for the institution...We have seen improvements across some areas, but our recovery has not been complete and there is a significant degree of inconsistency in performance within Schools and even subject areas.
On 'Organisation and Management', which he is involved with and even leading, Dr Grogan adds that "we have performed poorly and are sitting some way below the sector mean. In turn, this performance directly correlates to a 1% drop in Overall Satisfaction..."
Meanwhile the University is in dire financial straits with plans to make around £21.5million savings in this financial year, after a £48million loss last financial year and a £28.9million deficit. Professors in the Business School have already been culled with all 9.2 posts being 'de-established', and only three being re-established. Staff believe that there are more teaching cuts to come.*
However, none of this has stopped the £2.5billion Salford Crescent and University District Masterplan, in which the University and Salford City Council plan to transform the whole area, with English Cities Fund, or ECf, the main contractor.
The English Cities Fund has been tarting up the area around Chapel Street and New Bailey with no affordable housing as yet and very little coming back to the city via its secretive Development Account, which nullifies the need for Section 106 payments.**
A couple of weeks ago, Salford Council's new Head of Planning, James Shuttleworth, wrote to local residents about the Masterplan, covering one hundred acres around the Crescent, the University, Adelphi Street and The Meadows..."a priority regeneration area for the Council"...
It seems that the previous Masterplan, published less than two years ago and launched at the property orgy MIPIM in the South of France***, is about to be torn up in the name of the usual platitudes...
...'Respond to and integrate with the local communities'...'Create opportunity for all and ensure nobody is left behind'... 'Generate high quality employment and create a truly unique and compelling innovation district'...and 'Provide high quality homes and a mix of tenures - The development will contain a varied mix of high-quality, adaptable, low energy homes for everyone' (judging by ECf's past record, add 'for everyone who can afford one!')...
The letter asked residents to respond to its objectives, without giving very many proper details at all is the old Crescent Police Station still being knocked down, for instance?
Oh, and finally, the Masterplan promises to 'Enhance the local experience for students and University staff'...Hopefully this will be an improvement on 126th rank in the student satisfaction league table...and hopefully there will be some staff left to witness it...
* See previous Salford Star article: Salford University To Cull Professors - click here
** See previous Salford Star article: English Cities Fund Wins Feed The Rich Award - click here
*** See previous Salford Star article: Crescent Masterplan Will Respect Soul of Salford Says Mayor - click here
For a full list of the National Student Survey Universities - click here
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