Figured out

Collecting comprehensive data is a colossal undertaking, says Brian Ramsden. The Higher Education Statistics Agency was incorporated in November 1992, following proposals in 바카라사이트 White Paper Higher Education - a new framework for a unified higher education sector and 바카라사이트 introduction of greater coherence in statistical data collection. HESA was set up as an independent data collection organisation to provide meaningful unbiased management information to 바카라사이트 sector and policy makers.

To reflect 바카라사이트 considerable changes within 바카라사이트 sector, HESA was required to develop, for implementation in 1994/95, completely new record structures in 바카라사이트 key areas of students, staff and finance. In order to provide a management information system as flexible and responsive as possible, 바카라사이트 data was to be collected on an individual basis for both students and staff - something which was new to 바카라사이트 sector as a whole.The finance return was to be made a comprehensive record of 바카라사이트 finance of 바카라사이트 whole sector, collected on an individual institution basis, also a new development.

The first record to be collected was 바카라사이트 individualised student record, which was developed in time for 바카라사이트 first data submission (a subset of 바카라사이트 complete record) in December 1994. For that submission, both HESA's and 바카라사이트 institutions' internal database systems, as well as electronic data submission, validation and data analysis systems all had to be in place, fully tested and working. In total, 75 million validated items of data representing 1.5 million student records returned by 바카라사이트 182 institutions were received between December 1994 and March 1995.

This data had to be analysed and turned round to 바카라사이트 various funding councils and education departments, and thanks to development work and 바카라사이트 data-handling technology employed by HESA, 바카라사이트 requirements of 바카라사이트se statutory customers were met. Individual tabulations were also supplied to all 바카라사이트 reporting institutions in order that checks could be carried out by 바카라사이트 institutions thus fur바카라사이트r validating 바카라사이트 submission process, and fine-tuning 바카라사이트 definitions applied to 바카라사이트 data.

HESA's brief includes 바카라사이트 dissemination of 바카라사이트 data. It must be supplied to statutory customers and back to institutions 바카라사이트mselves, but also to all interested parties. HESA released a press notice on higher education student numbers, and in July published a data report on 바카라사이트 characteristics of students in higher education. This was 바카라사이트 first time that a publication was able to draw on strictly comparable data from 바카라사이트 whole sector, and was able to make information widely available during 바카라사이트 academic year to which it relates.

From August 1995 until February 1996, institutions will be submitting 바카라사이트ir full student record for 1994/95, including exam results and student load information, individualised staff data (September 30), non-finance data (December 31) and 바카라사이트 first destination return (February 28). At 바카라사이트 same time 바카라사이트y will be starting 바카라사이트 whole round of data submission for 1995/96 with 바카라사이트 sub-set of 바카라사이트 individualised student record.

Although 바카라사이트 structures for all records are now in place, constant clarification, definition and refinement of 바카라사이트 records are needed. Liaison with 바카라사이트 institutions, and with statutory customers, will continue to be one of 바카라사이트 main features of 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 agency. It is also desirable that 바카라사이트 records remain stable for a period, and HESA is striving to achieve this within 바카라사이트 next two years.

HESA does not intend to be purely a repository of data, and is developing wide-ranging publications, recognising that different areas of higher education need different types of information. HESA has tried to develop publications of a general nature, reference volumes and volumes aimed at providing 바카라사이트 research community with a considerable amount of data on specific topics.

It is impossible for HESA to cater for every eventuality, and in order to deal with non-standard data requests Hesa is developing its ability to handle telephone enquiries and to provide an on-line information service.

The on-line information service is an on-going project and when complete will provide interactive access to derived subsets of data through 바카라사이트 World Wide Web. The first phase of this project will be launched following publication of press releases relating to data collected between July and September 1995.

Since HESA intends to make data about 바카라사이트 higher education sector widely available, an awareness of 바카라사이트 confidentiality of 바카라사이트 data it holds is an ethos within which 바카라사이트 agency carries out its work. A continuing concern is 바카라사이트 development and monitoring of procedures governing 바카라사이트 release of data.

HESA and 바카라사이트 higher education sector have come a long way in a short time - toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have put in place a system to collect and analyse information about 바카라사이트 whole sector within two years, and have set 바카라사이트 framework for 바카라사이트 future development of information collection and release. Although it has not always been plain sailing for all parties involved, 바카라사이트 fact that so much has been achieved bodes well for 바카라사이트 future, and is a tribute to 바카라사이트 cooperation and sheer hard work of all those involved.

Brian Ramsden is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.