UK students want better access to digital resources – survey

Nearly all UK students think digital copies of their course books should be available when needed and without waiting lists, a survey suggests.

It also found that some students say their mental health would be improved by better access to digital resources.

In a new policy note, Laura Brassington of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) analyses the findings of Ucas polling from October on student experiences of digitally enhancing learning.

Although digital learning is not a new phenomenon, it was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic but is not without its challenges, she writes.

Of the more than 2,000 students surveyed, 95 per cent say digital copies of their course books should be available to them at the point of need, without waiting lists.

Roughly half of the respondents said they worry about being able to access course books through the library when needed, and 60 per cent of those said wider availability of digital resources would improve their mental health.

Three-quarters would “strongly” like to see digital copies of their course texts available without waiting lists, compared with just a third for physical copies.

“As higher education institutions navigate the balance between in-person and online provision, it is important to hear from the student population,” said Dr Brassington, policy manager at Hepi.

“We should listen to those who have voiced their concerns for their well-being and improve accessibility by making lecture recordings available for the duration of courses and by cutting waiting times for access to digital resources.”

Other recommendations made in the note include making a single easy-to-use digital learning platform available and providing digital recording of lectures – the most in-demand learning resource of all.

Robin Gibson, marketing director at Kortext, which partnered with Hepi to publish the report, said students recognise the benefits of digital learning and the flexibility they provide.

“Students are increasingly relying upon and are grateful for learning resource provision via the university library, while desiring ease of access with a consistent, intuitive user experience,” he said.

The Ucas poll found that just one in six students “always” or “often” buys their course books instead of borrowing them from the library.

Dr Brassington said that this could help explain why there has been a significant rise in UK higher education institutions’ library spending.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com