Art and Design makes a substantial contribution to the national economy. It is a national success story. Yet when it is viewed through the lens of the National Student Survey [NSS] it does not come out well in comparison with other subject areas - hence the paradox.
GLAD (the Group for Learning in Art and Design) saw the need to gain an understanding of why the paradox existed - to get under the skin of the data. It commissioned the authors in November 2008 to undertake research into the way in which Art and Design has experienced and responded to the NSS. This research was supported with funds from the Art Design Media (ADM) Subject Centre of the Higher Education Academy and the HEAD Trust. The study had both quantitative and qualitative components which were pursued in parallel. The conclusions and recommendations at the end of this report derive from the authors' assessment of the two strands of data and their implications.
