NewsFor Immediate Release: 5 February 2012 Survey Ranks Student Satisfaction Levels High at Oceania University of MedicineOceania University of Medicine (OUM) students are satisfied with their education and are confident that the University will help them meet their education and career goals, according to a survey conducted in August 2011 as part of the site visit by the medical school’s accrediting body, the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). Almost half of OUM students (44%) participated in the survey, which ranked overall student satisfaction 7.29 on a 10-point scale and 7.36 on students’ confidence that OUM’s ability to meet their career goals. Students ranked OUM’s responsiveness to their needs at 7.8 out of 10. Rankings in the seven to eight ranged indicate “good” to “very good” in the spectrum of responses. Nine to 10 was considered “excellent,” and five to six was considered “adequate.” Average response scores for other questions included:
Newer students, who have taken advantage of OUM’s recently added Academic Advising program, expressed higher satisfaction than those who have not. Many respondents provided additional written information to assist OUM administration in improving the student experience. The survey asked students whether they thought the recent addition of more interactive discussion and weekly quizzes in the preclinical case-based modules was helpful and whether they thought the regionally focused Student Affairs Committees were positive features. Those students answering the question responded with an overwhelming “yes.” Students in the e-ITM and e-Foundation introductory modules, instituted in 2011, were asked about their experiences. Average response scores included:
Students were asked about their impressions of the school’s Student Affairs Committee in terms of resolving their issues. Usefulness and fairness of the Committee’s decisions received high satisfaction marks: 9.13 and 9.63, respectively. Timeliness indicated a need for improvement, though there was greater satisfaction with cases handled in 2011. “While we would like to see nines and tens in every category across the board, we are generally pleased with the student satisfaction survey,” says Dr. Peter Horneffer, Executive Dean and Dean for North America. “We appreciate the time that students took to answer the questions and take the results and suggestions very seriously.” Respondents were very generous with their comments and suggestions, which were reported anonymously, and circulated to the faculty and staff. There are plans to conduct regular surveys of the entire student body. The PAASCU team was impressed and provided a positive report following their site visit in October 2011. The next scheduled accreditation review is in 2013. Located on the grounds of the National Hospital Complex in Apia, Samoa, Oceania University of Medicine, which offers MD and MBBS degrees to its graduates, has a current student body of approximately 140 from nine countries. Graduates are receiving their post-graduate residency and internship specialty training at teaching hospitals in Australia, Samoa, and the United States. OUM is accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, listed in the World Health Organization's World Directory of Medical Schools, and recognized by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. For more information about OUM, visit www.oum.edu.ws. Media needing more information should contact Chris Dudley at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or +1-305-456-1625. |
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