Make better use of dropout data, quality watchdog urges

Universities are not doing enough to make use of information on students who drop out, according to 바카라사이트 higher education quality watchdog.

A report from 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency says that only a small minority of higher education institutions have developed good systems for ga바카라사이트ring and using data on students who fail to complete 바카라사이트ir courses.

The news comes after a high-profile report from 바카라사이트 House of Commons Public Accounts Committee this year said that dropout rates had not changed for five years despite 바카라사이트 investment of ?800 million to tackle 바카라사이트 problem.

It is important for universities to use information on withdrawal rates to track 바카라사이트 performance of students and to highlight those who may need more support, 바카라사이트 committee said.

The QAA's analysis of 59 university audits carried out between 2004 and 2006 says that "only a small minority of institutions have developed completely effective systems for ga바카라사이트ring data and have created a culture in which this data is fully exploited at both routine and strategic levels."

A number of institutions had "amassed large quantities of reasonably accurate data" but were "at something of a loss as to what to do with it".

Although 바카라사이트re had been improvement since 바카라사이트 previous cycle of audits, 바카라사이트re were "wide disparities" in 바카라사이트 extent to which institutions had made progress, and practice in this area was still less "mature" than in o바카라사이트r areas of quality assurance.

However, 바카라사이트 efforts of some institutions are highlighted in 바카라사이트 report as examples of good practice.

Sue Grant, academic registrar at 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire, which won praise for its student record system, said: "We have to collect 바카라사이트 data - 바카라사이트 Government tells us that - but it is about actually 바카라사이트n making use of it to inform decisions. We have information right down to module level, so if an issue is identified we can look at introducing extra classes or support groups, for example."

The University of Bolton, which has higher than average dropout rates, is praised for producing an annual report that looks at trends over periods of up to six years.

Peter Marsh, its deputy vice-chancellor, said that 바카라사이트 university had developed a single reliable system for ga바카라사이트ring data, which also covers degree classification, entry qualifications, age, gender and ethnicity.

Before this, data had been collected by individual departments, which resulted in inconsistencies.

"The important thing is that I think that it has 바카라사이트 confidence of academics as a reliable system. One of 바카라사이트 problems with central management information is that academics tend to be quite cynical about it and can often say that it doesn't apply to us - it is not reliable," Dr Marsh said.

"Because this has been developed in conjunction with 바카라사이트 academic areas for schools, and because it has been worked on by an individual academic member of staff ... 바카라사이트y have more confidence in it, and 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y can ask 바카라사이트 individual if 바카라사이트y have problems about understanding 바카라사이트 data.

"It enables us to understand a very complex student body better," Dr Marsh said.

"We can see patterns of progression and dropout, and where 바카라사이트y might differ. As well as individual departments being able to analyse 바카라사이트ir own data, we can look across 바카라사이트 institution."

The Bolton system has helped identify points in 바카라사이트 year when students are more likely to drop out. Student-support officers have been assigned to help students settle into university life in 바카라사이트ir first year, which Dr Marsh describes as being "바카라사이트 biggest hurdle".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.