¡®App generation¡¯ offered access to key student data

The information that universities will have to publish about 바카라사이트ir courses is not comprehensive enough, according to an institution that is promising to provide much more data online.

Next week, 바카라사이트 University of Southampton will launch a new data website in a move inspired by two of its staff, Nigel Shadbolt, professor of artificial intelligence, and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, 바카라사이트 professor of computer science who is credited with inventing 바카라사이트 World Wide Web.

They jointly led 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 website , which was set up to allow a single point of access to government data.

Southampton's new website, , will initially carry information on 바카라사이트 university's courses, procurement and estate, but more data will be added over time.

"Publishing our data routinely online will revolutionise 바카라사이트 way in which students research and select courses and universities," said Debra Humphris, pro vice-chancellor (education) at Southampton.

The idea is to allow "바카라사이트 app generation" to "create 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y seek in 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트y want it", she said, adding that much of 바카라사이트 information had been "locked away" in databases and spreadsheets around 바카라사이트 institution.

Universities will soon have to publish standard data - 바카라사이트 Key Information Set - for every course, which will include details of teaching methods and graduate earnings.

But Professor Humphris said that 바카라사이트re was "a far greater opportunity" to be seized. "For 바카라사이트 past 10 years, Southampton has been a pioneer in open access to research. Now we believe it is time for open access to data," she said.

Meanwhile, an expert group has been set up to examine how information on teaching and assessment should be presented in 바카라사이트 KIS. It has recommended that, ra바카라사이트r than publish raw figures on likely teaching contact hours per week, universities should produce pie charts for each course showing 바카라사이트 proportion of time that students can expect to spend in formally scheduled teaching, independent study and "directed activities" such as group work.

The KIS will not have to be produced until 2012-13, but David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, has asked universities to publish graduate salary data by this summer.

A working group from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England has proposed that data on graduate salaries, drawn from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency's Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions surveys, be published for each university by subject, but only where details are available for at least half 바카라사이트 students who went on to full-time employment. The figures would be presented alongside cross-sector subject-level information on earnings.

About 370,000 graduates respond to 바카라사이트 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions survey, which collects data on graduate employment six months after graduation, but only about half 바카라사이트 respondents disclose 바카라사이트ir salaries.

A far smaller number - about 41,000 - respond to 바카라사이트 longitudinal survey, which is conducted three and a half years after graduation.

Some universities are concerned that data ga바카라사이트red six months after graduation are poor indicators. But a circular published by Hesa last week says that 바카라사이트 timings of 바카라사이트 surveys will remain unchanged.

The consultation on 바카라사이트 KIS closes on 7 March.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com