Preparing for the HESA Data Futures programme
At 果冻传媒, 飞别鈥檙别 currently working through a series of changes to how we collect and return our student data to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). HESA is implementing a sector-wide transformation program for student collection this year, meaning that we are adjusting some of our usual business processes. This work is being led by the Strategic Planning and Analytics Group.
Read on to learn more about 飞丑补迟鈥檚 changing and why, and what it means for departments.
Why is it changing?
Data Futures will merge two existing HESA data collections: student record and student alternative record, to help enhance the quality and capability of data, reduce the burden on providers, and support changes to data governance across the sector.
What is changing?
The main change is an increase in the frequency of returns required yearly, moving away from one annual collection to two in-year collections. There are also changes to the scope and format of the data we return.
To help us get ready for Data Futures, this year (2022/23) and next year (2023/24), we will submit an annual collection that has been aligned to the new specification. However, HESA is also introducing in-year data submissions for the first time.
The upcoming dates for in-year submissions are as follows:
- 31 May 2023: 50% submission of student records.
- 18 August 2023: 90% submission of student records, followed by a quality assurance period.
- 13 October 2023: final submission of the complete file of student records.
From 2024/25, we will move to complete in-year data collections with two reference points set by HESA. The exact dates of which are to be confirmed.
What does this mean to you?
Departments will continue to submit data as they have in previous years using the central student record system, SITS. However, the exact data required may have changed due to the specification changes made by HESA.
With the introduction of in-year submissions to HESA, our Strategic Planning and Analytics team will lose the lead times they would usually have to quality control the data. This means that colleagues may receive requests for data or information in the coming months that require a timely response so that we can meet the deadlines set by HESA.
The team anticipates that most of these requests will be to confirm the interpretation of existing data fields or to correct minor data inconsistencies. There may also be limited requests for new data related to courses and modules.
Why do we collect and submit this data?
The University has a statutory requirement to collect and report data to HESA, which enables statistical analysis by government departments, funding councils and other authorised users. The data collected is fundamental to funding, reputation and strategic decision-making through a number of key areas:
- verifying our OfS funding allocation
- understanding our sector performance indicators, eg. widening participation
- identifying our National Student Survey (NSS) and Graduate Outcome Survey (GOS) samples
- populating 果冻传媒鈥檚 area of the OfS Discover Uni platform
- providing source data for some league table compilers.
A valid HESA return is also a condition of university status. Failure to submit would breach this condition, and the ultimate sanction would be de-registration and loss of university status.
Next steps
The Strategic Planning and Analytics team will work with colleagues across 果冻传媒 to ensure data quality is optimised and our processes are aligned to meet the new requirements.
If you have any questions, concerns or require further information on HESA Data Futures, please get in touch with the team by email: SPA_HESA@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window