Student evaluation of the learning environment in an undergraduate pharmacy programme: Lessons for educators

Abstract

Background

Student evaluation of the learning environment is important to enhance learning experiences. Programs such as Pharmacy use feedback from the evaluation to identify teaching-learning issues and use it to improve the quality of the learning experiences. The article aims to explore the general observations from the evaluation; to identify how the feedback is used to improve the learning environment and to identify lessons for educators in managing and using the feedback.

Methods

A cross-sectional data analysis of Pharmacy students’ learning environment from 2011–2015 based on data from module, faculty, IMU-REEM and Student Barometer Survey was applied. Feedback obtained from the data was triangulated to establish commonalities/differences of the issues.

Results

Based on the analysis, issues affecting Pharmacy student learning experiences were identified. The identified issues included teaching by subject matter experts, pedagogical delivery and physical learning environment. Seven lessons were presented for educators to assess the practicality of the feedback.

Conclusions

The feedback serves as a means to improve the Pharmacy program. Nonetheless, the challenges lie between the ideal and realistic expectations of students in optimizing the learning experiences. Lessons acquired from the evaluation of the learning environment are essential for educators in managing and using the information.

Ethics approval

Permission granted for approved secondary analysis of institutional data by the Dean, School of Pharmacy.

Acknowledgements

The IMU supplement is sponsored and supported by IMU Education Sdn Bhd.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Norul Hidayah Mamat

Norul Hidayah Mamat, BHSc (Hons), MEd, is the Coordinator for Evaluation at IMU Center for Education.

Vishna Devi Nadarajah

Vishna Devi Nadarajah, BSc (Hons), PhD, MHPE, is the Pro Vice Chancellor Education at International Medical University.

Hui Meng Er

Hui Meng Er, BSc (Hons), PhD, PgCertMedEd, is the Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning at International Medical University.

Srinivasan Ramamurthy

Srinivasan Ramamurthy, MPharm, PhD, is a faculty member of School of Pharmacy at International Medical University.

Peter Chuen Keat Pook

Peter Chuen Keat Pook, BSc (Hons), PhD, is the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic at International Medical University.