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Kingston University students told to cheat on survey
Kingston University has admitted one of its staff has pressured students to dishonestly answer a national funding survey.
In a statement, the university admitted one of its staff had told students give it better marks than it deserved in the National Student Survey.
According to an audio recording published by Live! the student news website of Imperial College, the unnamed staff member tells students the value of their degree depends on the university's reputation and score in the survey.
"If Kingston comes down the bottom, the bottom line is that nobody is going to want to employ you," the staff member said.
Kingston University said it regrets the isolated incident and is investigating.
A university spokeswoman could not confirm whether anyone had been sacked over the incident.
This National Student Survey was introduced by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to gather feedback on the quality of students' courses in order to contribute to public accountability.
In a statement, vice chancellor Professor Peter Scott said: "We believe this to be an isolated incident and regret the inappropriate comments made to students about the National Student Survey, even if these remarks were not intended to be taken entirely literally.
"As soon as we were alerted to this allegation we investigated the matter and looked at ways to ensure that such a mistake was not repeated.
"We have kept the Higher Education Funding Council for England fully informed about our investigation.
"Kingston University liaised extensively with the students' union in the run up to the National Student Survey and together we prepared a number of joint communication materials informing staff and students about the NSS process.
"In all these communications it was made clear that staff should explain how the NSS was implemented and the reasons for completing the survey, but that they should encourage students to be honest in their response and should not in any way attempt to influence what they said.
"In future, the university plans to introduce an agreed script about the NSS which will be widely circulated to students and staff to avoid any repeat of this incident."
5:24pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Beth L, Kingston on 10:27pm Tue 13 May 08
Professor Scott's comment calling this "[italic]an isolated incident[/italic] " and expressing his regret "[italic]even if these remarks were not intended to be taken entirely literally[/italic] " is very suspicious. The person who was caught pressuring students is a high level person and a developmental psychologist who does research into fear. She knew exactly what she was doing when she spoke to student in a coercive manner. Moreover since the story broke hundreds of students from all over the UK have contacted news organizations stating that they had similar problems. Either Professor Scott is not being forthcoming or he is very sadly out of touch with what is going on at Kingston University.
Professor Scott's comment calling this "
an isolated incident " and expressing his regret "
even if these remarks were not intended to be taken entirely literally " is very suspicious. The person who was caught pressuring students is a high level person and a developmental psychologist who does research into fear. She knew exactly what she was doing when she spoke to student in a coercive manner. Moreover since the story broke hundreds of students from all over the UK have contacted news organizations stating that they had similar problems. Either Professor Scott is not being forthcoming or he is very sadly out of touch with what is going on at Kingston University.
Posted by: Astrid Miller, Kingston on 11:53pm Tue 13 May 08
This sort of behaviour has been going on at Kingston for too long now. The place is corrupt from the top down. What a disgrace...[bold]bold[/bold]
This sort of behaviour has been going on at Kingston for too long now. The place is corrupt from the top down. What a disgrace...
Posted by: Ima Paskudnyak, Wimbledon on 10:42pm Wed 14 May 08
To call this a "mistake" is tantamount to calling readers idiots.
No one could possibly believe that this was anything other than a systematic effort by Professor Scott to enhance Kingston's image at the expense of the truth, the taxpayers and the students.
He should resign immediately or be sacked by the University Board.
To call this a "mistake" is tantamount to calling readers idiots.
No one could possibly believe that this was anything other than a systematic effort by Professor Scott to enhance Kingston's image at the expense of the truth, the taxpayers and the students.
He should resign immediately or be sacked by the University Board.
Posted by: former KU Staff, Kingston on 7:55am Fri 16 May 08
As a former staff member at Kingston University , I can certainly state the the levelof student satisfaction was very,very low. Students were often in tears about their poor treatment. Moreover the administration choose to reduce key areas of instruction mid course not delivering what the students were promised in order to cut corners. Students were very frustrated and left in droves
As a former staff member at Kingston University , I can certainly state the the levelof student satisfaction was very,very low. Students were often in tears about their poor treatment. Moreover the administration choose to reduce key areas of instruction mid course not delivering what the students were promised in order to cut corners. Students were very frustrated and left in droves
Posted by: James, Kingston on 2:03am Sat 17 May 08
Very very doubtful that this was an 'isolated incident' It even said on the universities blackboard site that positive responces to the National student survey would enhance career prospects
Very very doubtful that this was an 'isolated incident' It even said on the universities blackboard site that positive responces to the National student survey would enhance career prospects
Posted by: Heather Sycamore, Kingston on 12:08am Sun 18 May 08
Kingston University said
“As soon as we were alerted to thi[italic]s allegation we investigated the matter and looked at ways to ensure that such a mistake was not repeated[/italic] ."
However students went to the office of the VC to let him know what happened before we went public and he took no action. I guess that is because he didn't know there was a recording.
Part of a pattern of massive wrong doing and constant denial.
Kingston University said
“As soon as we were alerted to thi
s allegation we investigated the matter and looked at ways to ensure that such a mistake was not repeated ."
However students went to the office of the VC to let him know what happened before we went public and he took no action. I guess that is because he didn't know there was a recording.
Part of a pattern of massive wrong doing and constant denial.
Posted by: James, Surbiton on 9:51am Wed 21 May 08
Nice to see it hasn't changed since I was there!
If the University was more organised then the students would give it good reports but the fact is when I turned up I had to work everything out for myself there was no sort of 'welcome pack' my friend at other universities were also carried to where they had to be, but not at Kingston we had to work it out for ourselves, also the facilities in the university are insufficient, they were always too busy trying to get more foreign students for more income then quality.
Kingston University should be graded back to a polytechnic! Only one in the country but it really doesn't meet the standards of a University!
Nice to see it hasn't changed since I was there!
If the University was more organised then the students would give it good reports but the fact is when I turned up I had to work everything out for myself there was no sort of 'welcome pack' my friend at other universities were also carried to where they had to be, but not at Kingston we had to work it out for ourselves, also the facilities in the university are insufficient, they were always too busy trying to get more foreign students for more income then quality.
Kingston University should be graded back to a polytechnic! Only one in the country but it really doesn't meet the standards of a University!
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