2023/24 UK further education professional services staff digital experience insights survey findings
The digital experience insights survey for further education professional services staff took place between October 2023 and June 2024. Participating FE colleges and sixth form colleges were able to select their own survey period within these dates, typically a three to four week window.
There were 1,092 respondents from 16 organisations. 11 of these were based in England, three in Wales, and two in Scotland. These 16 organisations represent 6% of all further education providers in the UK.
The highest number of responses from a single organisation was 188 professional services staff and the mean number of responses was 68 per organisation (on average 24% of the total number of professional services staff in each organisation that participated). However, two of the 16 organisations contributed fewer than 20 responses.
A survey indicating the digital experience of higher education professional services staff was run simultaneously and results can be found on our 2023/24 higher education professional services staff report page.
Through Jisc’s digital experience insights service, organisations can gain valuable data to inform strategic, operational and digital investment decisions, evidence year-on-year improvements and demonstrate return on investment. Organisations that take part have access to their own data to assess their unique situations as well as benchmarking data. Full information about the digital experience insights surveys is detailed on our information page.
Executive summary
Our 2023/24 digital experience insights survey for further education professional services staff explored the experience of using digital technologies in a variety of job roles. We gained insights into the overall digital environment they worked in, including the infrastructure, support and opportunities to develop digital skills offered by colleges. We established the key devices used by and activities undertaken by professional services staff, as well as their opinions on how well supported they felt to use digital tools effectively in their work. Staff from 16 organisations across the UK shared their experiences.
Survey respondents indicated that the environment for working using digital technologies was generally a positive one (77% offered an above average rating of ‘best imaginable’, ‘excellent’ or ‘good’). Looking at the range of activities staff engaged in as part of their work, as well as their feedback in the free text questions in our survey, showed that many clearly enjoyed utilising and innovating with digital technologies to improve the service they provide in their colleges. However, there were some issues organisations should continue to address, particularly ensuring systems are fit for purpose and accessible on and off campus (32% said they had problems working because of systems issues) and making sure that wifi coverage around college campuses is more reliable (44% said they had problems with wifi connectivity).
This year’s survey again indicated that most (63%) professional services staff worked on campus, although more worked across a mixture of online and on campus locations than in last year’s survey (35% this year, 26% last year). Communication platforms and technologies like cloud-based documents enabled staff to collaborate effectively with their colleagues and external partners. Many were also enabled to work where health conditions, learning conditions or impairments may have otherwise made solely face-to-face on campus work difficult. Some, however, noted that remote working made them feel more isolated from their colleagues, while others (27%) had issues working with digital technologies (eg participating in online or hybrid meetings, or holding support meetings with learners or staff) because they did not have a private area to work.
Although the level of staff who rated the support given to them for working effectively using digital technologies has remained about the same for the past few years of our survey (73% this year), colleges have made some improvements in supporting the development of particular skills. Over half (51%) said basic IT skills training was offered to them (37% last year), 58% said they were offered training in keeping data secure, and 37% said they were offered training in handling digital information, data and media (28% in 2022/23). Despite these improvements, less than half (46%) agreed that they had guidance about the digital skills needed for their job role and only 29% said their college provided an assessment of their digital skills and training needs.
Full report
Download our 2023/24 UK further education (FE) professional services staff digital experience insights survey findings [pdf].