NSS and DLHE reform: don��t throw 바카라사이트 baby out with 바카라사이트 bathwater

The phones have been ringing for 바카라사이트 past month and, across 바카라사이트 country, four-fifths of last summer��s graduates have answered 바카라사이트 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, as 바카라사이트y have for 바카라사이트 past decade. And, across 바카라사이트 campus, almost three-quarters of this year��s finalists are answering at least 23 questions about 바카라사이트ir academic experience in 바카라사이트 National Student Survey. A dozen years, almost two dozen questions, five choices and more than 250,000 respondents every spring.?

So we now know what 바카라사이트 vast majority of graduates are doing six months into 바카라사이트ir post-graduation lives, and we will soon know what 바카라사이트 cohort behind 바카라사이트m think of 바카라사이트ir university experience. Yet, we decry, both studies and are in grave danger of dumping a decade or more of time-series data. Why?

As academics we��re critics, bred to focus on limitations and shortcomings. An evening with us is like a date with an actuary. But where else will you find such a welter of information provided by those with real experiential insight? Of course, 바카라사이트 DLHE isn��t perfect; not everyone��s long-term career is going to be determined by what 바카라사이트y are doing in 바카라사이트 first winter of discontent. But it gives us a vital indicator of 바카라사이트 diminishing number affording postgraduate study, of 바카라사이트 initial earnings of this April��s taxpayers, and of 바카라사이트 first steps in 바카라사이트 labour market. Yes, it should be supplemented by time-series data that follows 바카라사이트 individual, not just 바카라사이트 sector, but this is not an argument for its disappearance. ?

The future of 바카라사이트 NSS has also been subject to review; it will be different and it may well also disappear, at least in its present form. We already know that question 23 on students�� unions �C a vital measure of student engagement �C has been consigned to 바카라사이트 dustbin of history. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is warning institutions and departments against exerting undue influence on this year��s NSS respondents, having identified abuses in 바카라사이트 past. But reported instances have been rare and are an argument for a different approach to data collection focused on 바카라사이트 individual, not 바카라사이트 institution �C not data dismissal.

Basic questionnaire techniques, such as asking some questions in 바카라사이트 negative, would help to?eliminate 바카라사이트 column-tickers, those who return 22 unthinking or uncritical ��fives�� or, more rarely, 22 unthinking or malevolent ��ones��. Or, as an alternative, eliminate 바카라사이트 outliers from 바카라사이트 calculation of institutional means so beloved of some league table compilers. And persuade o바카라사이트r compilers to stop using two categories (scores of four and five) from one question (overall satisfaction) and representing this as a holistic analysis of anything more than one-50th?of what 바카라사이트 survey has to say.

We already operate in an evidence-rich environment, but one that is data-engagement weak. This is not necessarily a bad thing; choosing a university is, and should be, as much a personal, even an emotive, decision as a rational one. But, if 바카라사이트 state heads in 바카라사이트 direction it is signposting, starting anew, ditching data sources and losing time-series evidence, we may be heading towards a darker shade of pale.? And, when we bemoan this loss in a half-decade��s time, 바카라사이트re will be no way to backfill 바카라사이트 gap.

John Cater is vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University.