Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111
Your industry news - first
The original and best - for over 20 years!
We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Cleanliness can improve academic achievement and enhance student retention rates
As competition between universities increases in light of reductions in Higher Education funding, outsourcing specialist Resource GB is urging universities to consider the importance of cleanliness in creating a positive and productive environment for their students. It has a point... A recent survey conducted by Resource GB identified that students drew a direct link between their own academic achievement and the cleanliness of their campus and halls of residence. And the results back the findings of previous research conducted in the US and Canada.
The survey revealed that 44% of students felt they would gain a better qualification if their campus and halls of residence were cleaner and more organised. The majority of students (48%) rated the cleanliness of campus facilities as quite important, while 41% said it was extremely important.
"The evidence is clear that Higher Education institutions need to develop a consistently high standard of cleanliness throughout their facilities to ensure their students experience the best possible environment for learning," explains Andy Vaughan, Managing Director of Resource GB.
"The students we surveyed felt that they'd learn more in a clean environment and that a lack of cleanliness leads to higher stress levels, as well as contributing to allergies and the spread of germs.
"Ultimately, our research has concluded that institutions which maintain a high level of cleanliness throughout campus at all times produce happier, better performing and more productive students which contributes significantly to student retention throughout the course of their qualification."
The survey correlates with similar research conducted throughout the US and Canada by APPA, an association of over 5,000 education facilities professionals, which assessed the impact of cleanliness on student performance to determine the link between personal health and cleanliness.
Findings showed that 88% of students assessed by the APPA felt that a lack of cleanliness becomes a distraction while 84% reported that they desired orderly spotlessness and tidiness to create a good learning environment.
Cleanliness ranked as the 4th most important factor affecting personal learning for students. The top three building conditions were noise (52% of respondents stated it was a major concern), followed by air temperature and lighting.
Students were acutely aware of their own influence over campus cleanliness, with 88% of students reporting that they should be involved in keeping campus buildings clean, which encourages projects to involve students in cleaning initiatives.
Higher Education institutions are working harder than ever to attract and retain students who are increasingly discerning in their choice of institution, universities need to be operating at peak efficiency and offering a quality learning environment that enables students to feel comfortable on campus.
Universities are therefore encouraged to make further efforts to address student concerns over campus cleanliness and ensure that staffing is in place to maintain consistently high standards.
Resource GB are experts in providing support services for the Higher Education sector and strive to achieve clean, secure learning environments and creative a positive learning experience for students.
4th April 2013