UHI Inverness partners with Highland Hospice to promote latest student survey

UHI Inverness students have chosen Highland Hospice to benefit from the latest incentive donation to encourage them to complete this term’s satisfaction survey.

Students voted online and at the Refreshers Fayre for their preferred charity partner and the majority chose the Highland Hospice to benefit from a donation linked to the number of completed Student Satisfaction and Engagement Surveys (SSES). The higher the response rate, the larger the donation the hospice will receive. 

The survey launched today (Monday, 18 March) at an event in the atrium of Inverness Campus when staff helped students complete the survey online. Students also received information from hospice staff about the services it offers, and the volunteering and work placements available for students.

Katie Gibb, Highland Hospice’s Youth Fundraiser, said: “We are excited to have this opportunity to work in partnership with UHI Inverness, which we believe will be a mutually beneficial exercise. Highland Hospice does so much, both in our Bishops Road building and out in the wider Highland community, offering many opportunities in terms of volunteering and fundraising. It will be a real privilege to share information with the students, and we look forward to many visits from them. We would urge all students to embrace the partnership and participate in the survey to help their local hospice.”

The hospice provides care and support to people in the Highlands who face life-shortening illness, death and bereavement. It also offers advice for the emotional, social and spiritual issues that may arise and works with patients, families and carers at a time of transition to help them enjoy, value and commemorate life.

The award-winning incentive charity approach to encourage student engagement with surveys was first introduced by UHI Inverness in 2022 and has raised donations for Mikeysline, James Support Group and Maggie’s Highland over the last three survey campaigns.  It has also resulted in a record number of responses and cemented lasting associations with these charity partners.

Lindsay Snodgrass, Vice Principal of UHI Inverness, said: “The specialist care and support offered by Highland Hospice, as well as its many fundraising activities, have touched the lives of many across the region and it holds a very special place in our community. We are delighted to partner up with the hospice as we know it will inspire students to share important feedback about their learning experience, and it will also help them connect with a local charity that provides amazing support to their patients, their families and friends. I am sure that this new partnership will lead to further collaboration opportunities and a valuable, enduring relationship.”

The survey gauges how students feel about their study experience, and it helps to inform changes and further improvements at UHI Inverness.

The SSES campaign is led by the Quality team at UHI Inverness. Its manager Liz Cook said: “The survey will provide us with a wealth of information and insight into the student experience that will be analysed and shared across our curriculum and professional services teams as a valuable resource that will act as the basis of further actions and improvements. Raising money for charitable concerns is a proven positive motivator for our students and by sharing their views about their learning experience, the students will contribute to a cause they care about.”