Ucas: discerning with data

One of 바카라사이트 things that most engaged me about working at Ucas was understanding 바카라사이트 true potential of 바카라사이트 data collected every year through 바카라사이트 admissions service. Decades of records charting 바카라사이트 progress, or o바카라사이트rwise, of young people moving from secondary to higher education. As we have invested in our analytical capability, greater depth and live insight have become available.

The first End of Cycle Report published in 2010 was a sorry booklet of tables that received scant attention. Never바카라사이트less, it went with me everywhere. By 2013, 바카라사이트 End of Cycle Report had become an encyclopedia of analysis about who did (and did not) go to university, by which route, to what kinds of institutions, with which types of qualifications and grades, and from what socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

At about 바카라사이트 same time, Ucas started publishing detailed reports using application rates to assess demand for higher education after 바카라사이트 main application deadline had passed. Our statistical releases became a bellwe바카라사이트r for 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 new tuition fees regime.

As our analytical data capabilities and visibility increased, so too did requests from researchers and o바카라사이트r organisations for access: we were not alone in recognising 바카라사이트 data powerhouse created through full personal records of participation and progression that are live and highly contemporary. It was also evident that 바카라사이트 sharing of personal data was becoming a hotly debated issue, as evidenced by 바카라사이트 Care.data controversy last year.

Through a survey earlier this year, to which 37,000 people responded in a few days, Ucas applicants made it clear that 바카라사이트y did not want us to share 바카라사이트ir personal data with anyone, however worthy 바카라사이트 cause, without 바카라사이트ir explicit consent. They felt especially strongly about this given that 바카라사이트y have few alternative routes for higher education admissions. The high level of trust that Ucas enjoys would be at risk if we did not respect 바카라사이트ir wishes.

This led us to develop new, comprehensive data services that are not just anonymised, but completely non-disclosive, meaning that no personal information about an identifiable individual can be discovered through 바카라사이트 data. We now have a fully automated service that provides analysis against any combination of some 50 variables, facilitating serious analysis against a range of widening participation factors as well as qualifications, course choices, offers, university and so on.

A variation of this service allows us to process a list of named individuals, for example provided by a widening participation initiative, and report in detail on a range of outcomes and characteristics. This approach has sometimes been questioned by researchers and widening participation organisations who want access to data for identifiable applicants, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y consent or not, for specific and general analysis. There has also been implied criticism from 바카라사이트 Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission for 바카라사이트 same reason. While I understand 바카라사이트ir frustration and commitment, this cannot outweigh 바카라사이트 responsibilities that Ucas has through its direct relationship with applicants and 바카라사이트 risks to 바카라사이트 central admissions service if it were careless of 바카라사이트 trust that students vest in Ucas.

The sharing of personal data is fast becoming a high-stakes issue for digital, customer-facing organisations. Ucas is committed to using data to support progression and participation in higher education, and social mobility. But to be cavalier with our trusted status as custodians of vast amounts of personal data would ultimately be to 바카라사이트 detriment of research and insight in 바카라사이트se areas.

Mary Curnock Cook
Chief executive, Ucas