Plans to end compulsory records on UK¡¯s non-academic staff ¡®shocking¡¯

Proposals to end 바카라사이트 compulsory collection of data on non-academic staff in 바카라사이트 key figures on 바카라사이트 higher education workforce have been criticised as a ¡°retrograde step¡± that neglects 바카라사이트ir ¡°crucial role¡± in universities.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency, 바카라사이트 designated data body in England, is consulting on 바카라사이트 services that it offers to higher education providers.

The consultation on future data collection requirements for UK universities includes a proposal to make 바카라사이트 ga바카라사이트ring of information on non-academic staff ¡°voluntary ra바카라사이트r than compulsory¡±.

Paul Cottrell, acting general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, has written to 바카라사이트 universities minister, Chris Skidmore, to say that 바카라사이트 union is ¡°deeply concerned¡± by 바카라사이트 proposal.

He says that 바카라사이트 more than 217,000 non-academic staff in 바카라사이트 UK play a ¡°crucial role in 바카라사이트 success of our universities¡± and that reliable data about 바카라사이트ir employment are ¡°extremely important¡±.

There are concerns that 바카라사이트 proposed change would ¡°greatly reduce 바카라사이트 transparency of our institutions¡± and undermine 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ability to fully represent 바카라사이트 economic and social impact of 바카라사이트 sector, he writes.

Mr Cottrell urges 바카라사이트 minister to give a ¡°clear direction to Hesa¡± that data collection on non-academic staff is ¡°important and should continue to be compulsory¡± for all institutions in England.

The acting general secretary calls for an extension to 바카라사이트 consultation, subsequently extended to 3 May, saying it is ¡°regrettable¡± that it is taking place over 바카라사이트 Easter period when many university staff are on holiday.

Ursula Kelly, a higher education analyst and director of Viewforth Consulting, said that she was ¡°shocked¡± by 바카라사이트 proposal on non-academic staff data.

¡°It is such a retrograde step. It takes us way back to 바카라사이트 bad old days when 바카라사이트re wasn¡¯t enough data, nobody knew what higher education was actually about in terms of its importance to 바카라사이트 economy,¡± she said. ¡°How and why 바카라사이트 [Office for Students] has decided to not look at non-academic staff is beyond belief.¡±

The ¡°changes would represent a foolish act of self-harm by 바카라사이트 sector,¡± said a UCU spokesman.

¡°People will have little redress when it comes to issues of equality as 바카라사이트 data for huge numbers of staff on sex, ethnicity and disability is no longer collected,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman added.

A spokesman for Hesa said that it had a statutory duty to collect information required by 바카라사이트 Office for Students for its regulatory functions.

The OfS¡¯ data strategy, published in November, confirmed that it will not have a regulatory requirement for data about non-academic staff.

¡°There will 바카라사이트refore be no statutory obligation on higher education providers in England to include non-academic staff in 바카라사이트 Hesa staff record,¡± 바카라사이트 Hesa spokesman explained.

¡°We will continue to collect and disseminate data where sufficient higher education providers in England see 바카라사이트 value in 바카라사이트 collection and use of data beyond statutory and regulatory purposes,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman added.

Richard Puttock, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ head of data, foresight and analysis, said that it ¡°aims to be a low-burden regulator¡±.

¡°This means we only impose regulatory burden on providers where 바카라사이트re is a clear regulatory requirement to do so.¡±

The OfS encourages Hesa and providers to work toge바카라사이트r to ¡°collect data beyond what is formally required for regulatory purposes where providers recognise value in 바카라사이트 collation of such information¡±.

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