WHAT DO STUDENTS THINK OF UNIVERSITY SUPPORT SERVICES?

Universities strive to support their students in various ways, but what do students think of these services? In 2023, Hong Kong University’s Research and Impact Initiative on Communication in Healthcare project interviewed recent and graduating students about their opinions on university support services. 

​

Some students feel overwhelmed by the volume of irrelevant information in daily newsletters. The lack of relevance and perception of “spam” mail can cause essential updates to get lost, potentially leading to students missing critical announcements.

​

Students also acknowledge the increased communication from universities post-COVID, regarding promotional efforts to visit counsellors. Those who reached out reported positive experiences; however, they highlighted people's hesitancy to do so. 

​

Many students believe universities should enhance mental health support by dedicating more resources to counseling and providing personalized check-ins from academic advisors. While some appreciate existing efforts, many feel universities are out of touch with student struggles and offer insufficient support.

​

Students also emphasised the need for universities to offer technological and digital skills training. With technology rapidly evolving in the workforce, they believe short-term courses or vocational programs would better prepare them for future careers.

​

Finally, students view university career support as inadequate, expressing a strong need for practical workshops on skills like CV writing. They also value interactions with recent graduates and opportunities for industry connections, believing these would significantly improve their post-graduation job prospects.

​

While students recognise the efforts made by universities’ support services, consensus reveals a need for improvement. This involves concise information sharing, personalised mental health support, the development of technological training programs, and the enhancement of  career services.

​

Universities must listen to feedback to better align support services with student needs. Together, we can improve.