Sector Watch — Page 8

UKRI postgraduate support: what doctoral schools should check

UKRI guidance sets out stipend rates, support entitlements and staged doctoral-funding changes. A dated guide to checking the applicable offer against PGR feedback.

OfS condition E10 tightens subcontracting requirements, and why student feedback evidence matters

OfS condition E10 applies at 100 or more students on relevant subcontractual courses. It requires a provider-wide information source and oversight of risks to students.

OfS TEF dashboard: the February 2026 release and interpretation limits

The February 2026 TEF dashboard combines NSS experience and outcome measures. B3 thresholds apply to outcomes; current data warnings and future TEF indicator decisions still matter.

Jisc Online Surveys switches Insights to median response time, and why it matters for student feedback surveys

Jisc’s March 2026 release changed Insights response time from mean to median and separated single-answer and multi-answer question types. Comparisons need to account for the change.

QAA's Strathclyde TQER report, and what it means for student feedback on assessment timeliness

QAA judged Strathclyde effective and identified four areas of good practice and five recommendations, including monitoring the timeliness of assessment feedback.

OfS key performance measures, and what they signal for student voice evidence

OfS introduced 11 performance measures in February 2026 to assess its own work. Student awareness is an interim measure; the announcement does not create a new provider reporting rule.

QAA launches Assessment & Feedback Roadshow, what it means for student feedback on assessment

QAA announced 22 free Assessment & Feedback Roadshow webinars for 23–26 March 2026, covering GenAI, assessment literacy and practice. This is a historical event summary.

Jisc adds file uploads to Online Surveys, and why it matters for student feedback surveys

Jisc announced file uploads in Online Surveys on 9 February 2026. The feature accepts PDFs and images, with practical limits for collection, access and deletion.

OfS dashboard release schedules: checking dates before reusing benchmarks

OfS now schedules its student access, outcome and experience updates for autumn 2026. Check release dates and dataset coverage before reusing older sector-distribution charts.

OfS autumn 2025 student pulse survey: reading the findings in context

The OfS autumn 2025 pulse report separates individual-wave and term-level findings. Its published figures offer context for student feedback, with clear limits on regulatory use.

QAA launches the UK TNE Quality Scheme, what it means for student feedback in transnational education

QAA announced its refreshed UK TNE Quality Scheme in February 2026, with an August start planned. The announcement describes support for participating providers and partnerships.

Jisc: building a business case for learning analytics, keeping student feedback in the loop

Jisc’s learning-analytics business-case guidance covers phased delivery, staff capacity, student involvement, realistic costs and safeguards. Feedback is part of evaluating a pilot.

Jisc: digital equity in transnational education, and what to capture in student feedback

Jisc’s February 2026 TNE article draws on more than 5,000 student and staff participants in over 30 countries, highlighting access, resources, cultural context and digital skills.

QAA assessment literacy toolkit, aligning expectations to improve student feedback on assessment

A QAA-funded project offers staff and student guides for assessment planning. Its initial evaluation reports perceived applicability, rather than proof of improved learning outcomes.

OfS research: student feedback during financial challenges, and what universities should monitor

Savanta’s survey for OfS records students’ perceptions of cost-cutting at English providers. Clear denominators and the report’s caveats matter when interpreting its findings.

NSS promotion in 2026: neutral messaging and restricted response-rate sharing

The 2026 guidance permits limited, documented sharing of interim NSS response rates. Neutral promotion remains essential; the February update corrected a funding-body reference.

QAA targeted peer review at the University of Glasgow, and what it signals for student feedback evidence

QAA’s January 2026 targeted peer review identified systemic risks at Glasgow and set out 21 recommendations. Its immediate context is the Scottish quality framework.

QAA welcomes new student committee members, what it means for student engagement in quality assurance

QAA announced new Student Strategic Advisory Committee members in February 2026. The committee advises its work; the announcement does not introduce a new provider requirement.

OfS corrects TEF data dashboard calculations, what institutions should check in student experience evidence

OfS records a February 2026 TEF data correction and a later dashboard release. A continuing uncertainty warning means analysts should check the current notice and data version.

Advance HE: PRES 2025 shows decade-high satisfaction, and how to act on PGR feedback

PRES 2025 reports 83% overall satisfaction among participating postgraduate researchers, alongside lower research-culture scores and a disability satisfaction gap.

OfS escalates oversight of subcontracted provision, and why student feedback evidence matters

OfS announced enhanced monitoring for RTC Education and an ongoing condition for the University of Greater Manchester after assessing subcontracted Business Management provision.