Students rate digital learning but call for better connectivity
86% of students rated their digital learning environment above average in our digital experience insights survey, but 60% report struggling with Wifi connections.
Our student digital experience insights survey 2024/25 (pdf), based on over 15,000 higher education students’ responses, found that the majority were happy with the quality of universities’ digital learning provision and with the support they received using university systems.
However, three out of five survey respondents reported issues with connecting by wifi either on or off campus, and nearly two out of five (37%) said they had lacked access to a suitable device at some point during their studies.
Cost of living
48% of students surveyed expressed a preference for online or blended learning over purely on-campus teaching and 36% said that the cost of travel deterred them from attending campus classes. A report by the Higher Education Policy Institute in June found that 68% undertake paid work during term time to make ends meet. Our survey found that 27% of students reported doing some of their learning and studying while at work. 72% of students said that they used smartphones for learning.
The report highlights the necessity of high-quality and easily accessible digital learning to address the experiences of students struggling with the financial costs of travel and devices, and the time cost of working to fund their studies.
AI and employability
34% of survey respondents said that they used artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their learning, up from 22% in the previous year’s survey. With our student perceptions of AI report highlighting students’ desire to learn about AI to remain competitive in the labour market, today’s survey report stresses the need for universities to offer guidance and instruction in digital skills. Only 37% of students said they had been offered opportunities to build digital skills for future employment and only 34% had received an assessment of their digital skills and training needs.
The survey report’s author, Dominic Walker, said:
“Students clearly value the flexibility, accessibility, and convenience of digital learning, and recognise where this is done well. They are also clear about where barriers exist and it’s in both students’ and organisations’ interests to lower these barriers. Improving the digital experience for students with the fewest resources improves the experience for everyone and maximises every student’s chance of success.”
Digital experience insights
Our digital experience insights survey for 2024/25 was undertaken by students at 24 universities and six colleges. These organisations gain valuable data from the survey to inform strategic, operational and digital investment decisions, evidence year-on-year improvements and demonstrate return on investment.
Universities and colleges keen to improve their digital learning provision can also benefit from tools, advice and guidance via Jisc's building digital capability services.