Cursor is not critical enough, that is the response of 41 percent of those surveyed. Conversely, eight percent think the reporting is too critical and a little over half (51 percent) are neutral on the point. Almost all readers (99 percent) who completed the survey, and that is no fewer than about one thousand people, think that it is acceptable for Cursor to write critically. The handful who do not share this view are worried that it would harm TU/e's image or feel it has nothing to add. The specific question, How critical is Cursor about the university? was answered by more than half the respondents with 'not critical'.

Half of the readership thinks it important that Cursor also appears in print. This appears to be valued by employees in particular (60 percent). Among students, the group that thinks paper is important (42 percent) is almost as large as the group that thinks otherwise (43 percent).

Questions were also asked in the survey about the preferred language. For almost one-third, the reporting language makes no difference, either Dutch or English. One-quarter prefers the current approach; most of the text in Dutch and some of it in English. Fourteen percent wants only Dutch and another fourteen percent, only English.

In addition, three-quarters of those asked think that Cursor must continue to be a medium for both students and employees. Many aspects were positively appraised, such as topicality, quality, entertainment value, and comprehensiveness. Points for improvement were also found: not only should Cursor become more critical, it should encourage debate at TU/e. What's more, more study tips would be welcome.

Of the more than one thousand persons who completed the survey, a little over half were students (54 percent) and the remaining 46 percent were TU/e employees.   

Cursor's editorial team plans to develop a future strategy based in part on these findings, for both print and online. The intention is to have implemented the changes by September 2017.

We are keen to delve deeper into certain topics that we asked about. For example, we would like to hear exactly what students and employees understand by ‘be more critical’ and we would like to know what functionalities readers feel would be essential to any redesigned website.

Would you like to join the discussion? If so, send a email tocursor@tue.nl and we will send you an invitation. (Sending us an email does not commit you to anything.) Suggestions for improvement may also be mailed and/or posted below this article.