Institutional Research & Analytics

SURVEYS

Surveys constitute a major component of Institutional Research and Analytics activities. IR&A administers a variety of annual/regular and ad hoc/special surveys.

In addition, IR&A is responsible for regulating administrative surveys at NU. This page contains information about the regulation of administrative surveys, ongoing and scheduled surveys, and resources that can help in designing a survey.

Regular Surveys
Special Surveys
Survey Proposal Submission
Survey Calendar and Deadlines
Survey Design Resources
Remote Learning Survey   

The Remote Learning Survey was conducted in Fall 2020 to assess NU students’ experiences with and perceptions of remote learning. The survey examined different aspects of students’ experiences and perceptions, including modes of delivery, adaptation to and satisfaction with remote learning, academic and social engagement, psycho-social wellbeing, access to technology, informational support, impact of the home environment, as well as other aspects of their remote learning experience.

Fall 2020 Remote Survey Report

 
Survey on Computer and Internet Access at Home  

This survey was conducted in March 2020, as NU prepared to switch to remote/online instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this survey was to (1) assess NU students’ computer and internet access (at home) for remote/online learning and (2) identify challenges that students expected to face as the University transitioned to remote/online learning.

  Spring 2020 Computer and Internet Access Survey Results   


The statistical data on the website (ie.nu.edu.kz) should be considered in the context of an international research university, and in-line with NU's strategic targets (NU Strategy 2018-2030).Please refer to the original source of information when using these data in publications.If you have any questions, please contact the Institutional Research and Analytics team at ir@nu.edu.kz.

IR&A is responsible for providing coordination and oversight over administrative surveys at NU (“Regulation on Administrative Surveys” approved by the Managing Council of NU dated 13.07.2021). The primary goal is to ensure that administrative surveys adhere to quality standards and that members affiliated with NU are not burdened with multiple surveys.

An administrative survey is a survey whose primary purpose is to collect data for quality control, administrative/needs assessment, or program evaluation.

If you are planning an administrative survey, please carefully review information on this page and the Regulation on Administrative Surveys (accessible to member of the NU community). Your survey might require review and approval before you are allowed to implement it.

 

Start an Administrative Survey

To submit your survey for review and approval:

  1. Review information on this webpage, to determine if you survey requires approval and to learn about the review process, timeline, criteria.
  2. Check the section “Survey Calendar and Deadlines” to be informed about the deadline for survey proposal submission and to pick appropriate dates for your survey project.
  3. Download and complete the Survey Proposal Form .
  4. Develop the survey instrument. Please check the section “Survey Design Resources” for materials that can be helpful in survey design. Please note that it is your responsibility to develop a quality survey instrument. The survey should be carefully formatted in Microsoft Word, with clear instructions, questions, and response options.
  5. Email the Survey Proposal Form, along with your survey instrument and any other relevant information to ir@nu.edu.kz with the topic “SURVEY PROPOSAL” before the deadline.

Which surveys fall under the review process?

The review process applies to surveys implemented primarily for administrative purposes (i.e., collecting individual opinions or experiences for quality control, administrative/needs assessment, program evaluation, planning, development, and improvement of effectiveness), with the target population being either the entire NU community or a broad subset of this community (e.g., CPS students, undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and/or staff). Administrative surveys implemented by any NU structural units (including its organizations) are subject to the review.

The following surveys are exempt from the review:

  1. Surveys conducted for academic research purposes (e.g., academic/research surveys) by NU faculty, students, or staff, provided these surveys are explicitly approved by IREC or do not fall under “human subject research”.
  2. Student surveys for a dissertation/thesis or class project/assignment.
  3. Course evaluation surveys.
  4. Surveys administered by one structural unit (e.g., a school, division, department, unit or entity) to stakeholders from the same structural unit.
  5. Surveys implemented by Faculty Senate.
  6. Surveys implemented by NU student organizations (e.g., Student Government and clubs).
  7. Small-scale “point of service” surveys (administered to specific individuals who participated in a specific event), or simple feedback/evaluation of a specific event attended, or business service used. Such surveys cannot use generic student, faculty or staff email lists, as these lists are most likely to include individuals who did not attend the event or use the service for which the initiator seeks feedback.
  8. Surveys conducted by Institutional Research and Analytics.

Please see the Regulation on Administrative Surveys for more information, including exceptional-circumstance surveys.

Survey Review Panel

The Survey Review Panel (Survey Panel) is formally established by the decision of the Provost to provide oversight over NU administrative surveys and ensure that surveys adhere to the goals of the Regulation on Administrative Surveys.

Composition of the Survey Panel for the AY 2023-2024 is following:

  • Matthew Courtney, Head of Institutional Research , Office of the Provost, chair;
  • Aliya Suleimenova, Academic Quality Enhancement Officer, Office of the Provost, member;
  • Aray Saniyazova, Advisor, Department of Student Services, member;
  • Ayaulym Bauyrzhanova, Survey Coordinator, Institutional Research and Analytics (Office of the Provost), member and secretary
  • Dana Abiltayeva, Senior Manager, Strategic Planning and Experience Sharing Department, member;
  • Leila Maslova, Training Coordinator, Department of Human Capital Development, member;
  • Olzhas Tuyakbayev, General Manager, Office of the Registrar, member.

The Survey Panel will review survey proposals four times a year, in the beginning and middle of each Fall and Spring semester. The detailed timeline of the review process with specific deadlines for survey proposal submissions can be found in the “Survey Calendar and Deadlines”.

Survey Panel members will assess proposals based on several criteria. A survey proposal shall be deemed acceptable if it is recommended for approval by at least two-thirds of the Panel members who review that particular proposal.

It should be noted, that the Survey Panel is not a survey consultancy group and is not responsible for providing survey design and implementation support/guidelines or improving the quality of surveys submitted for review/approval. It is the initiator’s responsibility to develop a survey proposal and instrument that meet quality standards. Survey design resources and other helpful information can be found in the “Survey Design Resources”.

Survey Review Process
  1. The Survey proposal (including the instrument) is submitted by the initiator (and by the deadline).
  2. Panel members review the proposal (up to 2 weeks after the deadline).
  3. The Panel Chair and Secretary analyze/summarize reviewers’ input and determine the final outcome: approve, reject, or revise/improve and re-submit the proposal.
  4. The Secretary communicates the final outcome/decision to the initiator (no later than 3 weeks after the submission deadline).
  5. For approved proposals, the initiator administers the survey (see “Survey Administration” tab).
  6. The initiator submits a short report to the Survey Panel (see “Post-Survey Feedback” tab).

Survey Administration

If permission to conduct a survey is granted, the Survey Panel will also decide on the means of distribution of the survey as follows:

  1. Anonymous survey link – the initiator will reach the target population (e.g. students, staff) by emailing the survey link through existing NU mailing lists. The Survey Panel may also determine, based on the nature of the survey proposed, that the initiator should administer the instrument through means such as social media platforms and/or QR codes posted on campus (rather than through existing mailing lists).
  2. Generated random sample – Institutional Research and Analytics will generate a random sample from the population of interest and NU Information Services will create a temporary mailing list that includes sampled individuals. The initiator will send an anonymous survey link using this temporary mailing list.
  3. Individual survey links – in rare circumstances when the survey needs to be confidential, but not anonymous, the survey instrument can be disseminated through personalized survey invitations. Ensuring confidentiality and data protection is a crucial ethical requirement for this type of survey and the Survey Panel will pay special attention to non-anonymous surveys. Non-anonymous surveys can be conducted by a unit that already has access to individual contact information for the target population of interest (e.g., Admissions Department, Office of the Registrar, Department of Human Capital Development, Information Services). However, initiators will need to provide the Survey Panel with a strong justification for non-anonymous surveys.
  4. Interviews – in cases where the Survey Panel decides that a qualitative interview approach is more suitable for the proposed study, the initiator can recruit volunteers from the target population and conduct interviews.

Post Survey Feedback

After the implementation of the survey project, the initiator shall complete a short report and send it to ir@nu.edu.kz.

This report should not be viewed as an administrative burden, but rather as an opportunity for the survey initiator to reflect on the survey project and on its outcomes. This reflection will also assist Institutional Research and Analytics and the Survey Review Panel to assess the benefits and pitfalls of administrative surveys at NU.

This report will be due no later than 6 months after the survey administration date. Failure to submit this report will negatively affect the review of future survey proposals submitted by that structural unit.

The NU Survey calendar contains information about ongoing and scheduled surveys initiated by the administrative units and approved by the Survey Review Panel.

If you plan to administer a survey to members of the NU community, please check this calendar to avoid overlaps in survey administration dates.

 

Survey Review Deadlines

As described in the section “Survey Proposal Submission”, the Survey Panel reviews proposals for administrative surveys four time a year, in the beginning, and middle of each Fall and Spring semester.

If you are planning to conduct an administrative survey, please check these important deadlines and dates for a thoughtful and timely planning of your survey.

 

# Deadline for proposal submission Review results are announced
1 First survey review in Fall 2023 September 8, 2023 September 29,  2023
2 Second survey review in Fall 2023 October 20, 2023 November 3 2023
3 First survey review in Spring 2023 January 19, 2024 February 9, 2024
4 Second survey review in Spring 2023 March 1, 2024 March 27, 2024

 

 

Instructions for survey proposal submission can be found in the section “Survey Proposal Submission”.