LESS than half of third-level students in Northern Ireland think their institution has done enough to support their mental health during the pandemic.
A new survey has found that 45 per cent of students are not content with the delivery of their courses through lockdown.
More than 8,000 students in third-level education in the north responded to the National Student Survey (NSS), which annually tracks students' experience across the UK.
The survey found a significant drop in the percentage of students who are satisfied with their access to learning resources and sense of community while at university or college.
Students' satisfaction in the learning resources they had access to dropped by more than 10 per cent compared to last year.
Around a third of students (30 per cent) do not agree that they felt like they were part of a learning community, a significant increase from 22 per cent in 2020.
Overall, one in five students in Northern Ireland are dissatisfied with their education.
However, the vast majority of students (84 per cent) are happy with how institutions treated their physical safety.
Ellen Fearon, President of NUS-USI, said the results of the survey were a cause for concern.
"While a slight drop in satisfaction may have been expected due to the significant upheaval and strain the impact of the pandemic placed on the education sector, these results demonstrate what NUS-USI has been saying all along, particularly in regard to the high percentage of students who don’t feel their institution is doing enough to support their mental health," she said.
"It is worrying that so many students feel that they are not part of a learning community and aren’t getting access to the learning resources they need."
She said a recovery plan was needed to help students develop a sense of community and support their mental health.
"This is an investment in the future that our government can’t afford to miss," she said.
Overall student satisfaction varied over the north's main institutions.
Around 83 per cent of Ulster University students were satisfied with their course.
Around 80 per cent of those at Queen's University Belfast expressed satisfaction.
The Open University (OU) achieved an overall satisfaction rating of 91 per cent in Northern Ireland.
Michael Bower, assistant director for student success in the OU in Ireland said the institution was pleased by the results.
"We're pleased to see such a strong endorsement of our university from the people who matter the most – our students," he said.
"It’s been a difficult year for everyone, and student support has been more important than ever.
"Our staff provide first-class support and teaching to our students throughout their studies, and we’re really looking forward to working with even more students across Northern Ireland in the future."
