Building a Culture of TRUST

The University of Limerick’s Learning Teaching and Assessment Strategy, Action for Wisdom recognises the need for a single integrated student feedback mechanism to systematically address and close the feedback loop, improving programme design, delivery, and student engagement.

UL's TRUST (Time to Reflect and Understand Students) surveys focus on fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect between students and those who teach them, while continuously building a positive and open relationship.

The surveys are designed to provide students with the opportunity to provide meaningful feedback on their learning experience within individual modules. They also enable lecturers to reflect and respond to student feedback as necessary, closing the feedback loop in a transparent and open manner. They will be conducted at the end of each semester and will replace the Module Satisfaction Survey (MSS) and the Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET).

TRUST-EM (Evaluation of Modules) focuses on the module's curriculum placement, learning environment and student engagement. After a successful pilot last semester, TRUST-EM will be implemented for all taught modules (excluding the School of Medicine) starting Wednesday March 26th.

TRUST timeline

TRUST-SET (Student Evaluation of Teaching) survey focuses on the teaching of a module, providing individualised feedback to teaching staff. A pilot will run in Semester 1 2025/26.  

The current SET will continue to be available in Semester 1 2025/26, managed by the Centre for Transformative Learning.

row of computers
TRUST-EM Instructor Portal
Cup of coffee in front of books and notes
TRUST-EM Student Portal
UL Library Silent Study area
TRUST-EM Questions
Image of a staff member presenting to students
TRUST-EM FAQs for Staff
rowing on the river Shannon at university of limerick
TRUST-EM FAQs for Students
looking upwards with building and sky in view
TRUST Procedures
two people with computer
Roles & Permissions on Brightspace

REPORTING

Access to survey reports will be provided via the Instructor portal. Access to aggregate reports will be determined by role (Course Directors, Heads of School/Department, Faculty Deans and senior university management).

ACCESSING THE SURVEYS

There are a number of ways to access the surveys when open:

  • All student surveys can be accessed via the Student Portal; faculty via the Instructor Portal
  • You will receive a personalised email from TRUST-EM@ul.ie to your UL email account, with links to all your surveys.
  • Survey widgets will appear on the home page of your university virtual learning environment (VLE), Brightspace
Brightspace