York shows excellent value for money and very low student 'drop-out' figures
Posted on 2 December 1999
University performance indicators are published for the first time today (3 December). York performs exceptionally well in 'progression' indicators, which show the proportion of students staying at university and achieving qualifications. Its 'value for money' indicators for both teaching and research are way above the national average.
In the significant figures for successful completion of courses, only 6% of York students fail to achieve an award or transfer to another institution. This compares to a national 'drop-out' figure of 16%.
There are three main types of figures:
- indicators on participation by particular categories of student (mature students, students from state schools, and particular social groups);
- 'progression indicators', which focus on the success of particular categories in staying at university; and
- indicators on value for money in research.
For most indicators, as well as a measure for each university, there is a national figure and a 'benchmark' figure (indicating what individual universities might be expected to achieve, given their subject-mix). In nearly every category, the University of York meets or outperforms its benchmark; it also outperforms most of its peer group of universities.
The 'progression' indicators show the benefits of York's strong emphasis on academic and pastoral support. 92 % of students at York who entered in a given year either 'continued' or 'qualified', compared with a national figure of 87 %. Overall, 90 % of first degree students at York achieve a degree qualification, compared with a national figure of 77 %.
In consequence, the University's 'efficiency' figure, which evaluates its spending of public money on teaching based on the length of time students take to gain their qualifications, is 95 % - significantly above its expected 'benchmark' of 87 % and above the national average of 85 %.
On research, the value for money indicator shows York amongst the top universities in the country. The University's market share of research grants and contracts per pound Sterling of staff costs exceeds that of both Oxford and Cambridge.
On the participation rate indicators, York mirrors expected 'benchmarks' very closely. For example, 79 % of York students are from state schools (benchmark: 76%), 17 % are from social classes IIIM, IV and V (benchmark: 18 %), and 10 % are from low participation neighbourhoods (benchmark: 9 %)
Apart from the state school indicator, York's figures in this area are slightly lower than the national average. In recognition of this, York is taking steps to widen participation through a number of schemes, including the Government's 'Excellence in the Cities' programme and its own programmes of encouraging pupils from inner cities, whose families do not have a tradition of going to university, to visit York.