While feedback is widely considered central to student learning, students across the higher education sector commonly report dissatisfaction with the feedback they receive. In contrast, academics often feel they provide quality and informative feedback. This article explores and compares the perceptions of students and academics with regard to feedback practice. The paper presents the results of questionnaire surveys conducted with academics and students at the School of the Built Environment, Liverpool John Moores University. It highlights the perceptions of academics and students with regard to preferences for different types of feedback, timeliness of feedback, students’ engagement and interest in feedback, quality feedback and satisfaction with current practice. The findings indicate a significant discord between staff and students in relation to certain aspects of feedback practice, namely opinions on students’ engagement and interest in feedback, satisfaction with current practice and feedback preference. Similarities in viewpoints were also found in relation to quality feedback.

Population ageing presents significant challenges for many countries, one of which is the provision of adequate housing. Developing understanding of the needs and preferences of ageing societies will be crucial in order to assist in the provision of suitable housing and communities that are sustainable in the long term. While a preference to ‘age in place’ is clear in the literature, comparatively less academic research is available on older people’s preferences for more specific housing and environment attributes. The aim of this study is to identify the main housing and environment characteristics that are linked to the health and wellbeing of the elderly and determine the preferences for such characteristics via a survey with UK residents aged 55+. The results indicate a strong preference for independent living and an increasing desire for bungalows in later life. Housing conditions, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and home adaptions to facilitate ageing in place are particularly important housing characteristics to older people. The location and environment are also key drivers of housing preferences; a safe neighbourhood, accessibility to amenities, public transport, and a clean and walkable environment are particularly important. Preferences varied with age, but gender has a less significant impact on the preferences expressed. The findings of this study will be valuable for stakeholders engaged in housing policy and provision for older people.

Housing affordability is a multi-dimensional issue, yet it is typically defined and assessed quite narrowly in terms of financial criteria. The housing affordability problem encompasses more than financial costs of housing and extends to larger issues of social wellbeing and sustainability. Accordingly, a broader range of factors ought to be considered when defining and assessing affordability, particularly if more sustainable outcomes are desired from housing. A comprehensive system of criteria representing sustainable housing affordability, developed by the authors, is validated and analysed in this paper. The quantitative data analysis of surveys conducted with housing and planning professionals across the UK is used to determine stakeholder’s perceptions on the criteria contributing to sustainable housing affordability and to rank these criteria according to their importance. The paper establishes that professional opinions on this issue differ insignificantly across different regions of the UK, while it varies to some extent depending on the sector of housing industry.

Improving the energy performance of buildings has become a priority area for energy efficiency policy across the European Union. A cornerstone to achieving carbon reductions in UK buildings is the Energy Act 2011 and subsequent minimum energy efficiency standards. This Act contains a number of provisions which will have implications for the commercial property sector. the paper presents a quantitative study that investigates the implications of the legislation and assesses how key stakeholders, specifically commercial landlords and property agents, are preparing for its implementation. the results reveal there is generally a good awareness of the act and suggest that a number of property owners, and to a lesser extent advisers, are taking greater account of energy and environmental performance in their acquisitive due diligence and asset management strategies, as a result of the act. less preparation was evident with regard to green leasing practice, although this was being considered as an action...

This study investigates the student experience of undergraduate research in order to develop a “research preparedness framework” that can be applied to the development of undergraduate curriculum design within a case study organization. This research utilises built environment students from a Higher Education Institution in the U.K. The study adopts a multi-method qualitative design using focus groups with various student cohorts, including Building Surveying, Real Estate Management and Quantity Surveying, followed by face-to-face interviews with industry representatives. This study highlights a discrepancy between student’s research preparedness and their understanding of its importance and perceived impact. It establishes areas for improvement within the curriculum to enhance students’ research preparedness throughout their undergraduate career. There are numerous benefits for students from being involved in research, such as developing a critical mind-set through the appraisal, collection, analysis and interpretation of complex information. However, students often do not see the tangible benefit of developing research skills to help them succeed and differentiate once they make their transition from higher education to employment. This study provides intriguing findings for anyone involved in property and construction curriculum across the globe, and will also appeal to any institution where students are undertaking research activities/projects.

Background/Objective: Stair falls are a major health concern for older adults, particularly those wishing to age in place. Despite extensive laboratory research on the causes of stair falls and the effectiveness of prevention interventions, there is limited understanding of how acceptable interventions are to end-users and key stakeholders in real-world home environments. This study explored older adults’ and professionals’ attitudes toward stair-fall prevention interventions, including intervention acceptability, barriers and facilitators to adoption, and priorities for implementation in home settings. Methods: This study employed a sequential mixed-method design, including a survey of 359 UK community-dwelling older adults (aged 55+), followed by focus groups with 8 older adults and 11 professionals from healthcare and housing backgrounds. Results: Older adults surveyed perceived home stair falls as a significant risk and priority for prevention but demonstrated less awareness of specific interventions to prevent falls. Focus groups with older adults and professionals established barriers and facilitators to the adoption of 10 specific stair-fall prevention interventions. Barriers included a lack of awareness, financial constraints, reluctance to alter home environments and stigma. Facilitators included raising awareness through education, clear guidance on intervention benefits and installation, practical and financial support, personalised approaches, social encouragement, and endorsement by professionals. Focus groups found the most acceptable stair-fall prevention interventions included education and skill training, improved staircase lighting and additional handrails. Conclusions: Interventions that are low-disruption, cost-effective, backed by empirical evidence, and endorsed by trusted professionals are more likely to be accepted and implemented. Further research should focus on targeted educational strategies to overcome barriers to adoption.