Assessing and improving the quality of undergraduate teaching in China: the Course Experience Questionnaire

Abstract

Assessing and improving the quality of undergraduate teaching is an important issue in China. Using the Course Experience Questionnaire, this study examined the quality of undergraduate teaching by investigating the relationships between students’ course experience, the learning outcomes demonstrated by the students and the learning environment. Two thousand and forty-three second-year students participated in a questionnaire survey. The results indicated that different aspects of the students’ course experience variously affected learning outcomes, such as overall satisfaction with the course, academic efficacy and the development of generic skills. These results reflected the characteristics of undergraduate teaching in China, and highlighted the need to enhance student autonomy and self-study. In addition, the appropriateness of learning resources and the level of academic freedom in the institutions were found to more powerfully influence students’ course experience than the provision of supportive facilities and services. These findings have implications for improving undergraduate teaching and its quality assurance in China.