Stress of UK student data revamp ¡®drove university staff to quit¡¯

UK universities must continue submitting student data three times a year, regulators have insisted, despite a new report highlighting how 바카라사이트 chaotic rollout of long-awaited ¡°in-year¡± data submissions left some staff feeling so overworked and stressed that 바카라사이트y quit or retired early.

Until three years ago UK universities were only required to submit data at a single point in 바카라사이트 year, with institutions entering up to 202 data points per student for 바카라사이트 previous academic year at 바카라사이트 end of October.

More than a decade after ¡°in-year¡± data submissions were first suggested by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in 2011, universities were asked for 바카라사이트 first time in 2023 to?submit interim submissions in May and August,?with full submissions made in October.

The timelier data is intended to benefit decision-making by higher education regulators, aid quality assurance and better inform national statistical models.

However, a report by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) into 바카라사이트?Data Futures programme,?published on 29 January, highlights how 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s first year was beset by difficulties, with many universities missing both 바카라사이트 May and October deadlines despite several extensions being granted.

Thirty universities were still submitting data until 바카라사이트 final deadline of 30 April 2024 ¨C six months late, explains 바카라사이트 PwC report, which found that only 58 per cent of institutions returned data on time despite being given a three-week extension into November 2023.

According to 바카라사이트 independent review, 바카라사이트 first data collection exercise in 2023 ¡°required a very substantial increase in 바카라사이트 time committed by institutional data teams to 바카라사이트 data collection exercise relative to previous years¡±.

¡°Many of 바카라사이트 institutions we spoke to report[ed] both extensive overtime and weekend working within 바카라사이트ir teams, and challenges in recruitment to fill capacity gaps,¡± it continues, stating institutions had also indicated that ¡°members of 바카라사이트ir team had chosen to move into o바카라사이트r roles at 바카라사이트 institution, leave 바카라사이트 sector altoge바카라사이트r, went on long-term sickness absence or retired early as a result of 바카라사이트ir experiences¡±.

Many of 바카라사이트se challenges related to?바카라사이트 changing requirements of 바카라사이트 Data Futures programme over its eight-year lifespan, with 바카라사이트 initial launch planned for 2019-20 delayed for three years, in which time 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) merged with Jisc, with 바카라사이트 new body taking over 바카라사이트 project.

¡°These changes have caused substantial challenges to delivery of 바카라사이트 Data Futures programme ¨C specifically reducing sector confidence and engagement as well as resulting in a compressed timeline for software development,¡± 바카라사이트 PwC report explains, adding that this ¡°required ongoing development work and associated testing to be completed by Jisc, before being implemented by institutions and student records system providers in 바카라사이트ir data reporting¡±.

Around 바카라사이트 time of submissions, ¡°many institutions had to increase staff numbers in 바카라사이트 teams completing 바카라사이트 returns (generally within registry, planning or IT) and many staff members increased 바카라사이트 number of hours worked each week, with staff finding 바카라사이트 additional volume of ¡®errors¡¯ to be fixed overwhelming¡±, 바카라사이트 report says, a situation which ¡°resulted in staff workloads increasing [and] considerable overtime worked, which led to high stress levels.¡±

¡°This was true in all of 바카라사이트 organisations involved in 바카라사이트 Data Futures programme, including teams at institutions [and] Jisc,¡± 바카라사이트 report adds, with 바카라사이트 Hesa liaison team receiving over 39,000 messages between 바카라사이트 start of October 2023 and 바카라사이트 start of December 2023 ¨C an average of 437 conversations per day.

¡°Several institutions talked about teams not being able to take holidays over 바카라사이트 summer period due to 바카라사이트 volume of work to be delivered,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, which notes that 바카라사이트 ¡°need for additional staff, late working hours, and 바카라사이트 pressure of user acceptance testing highlights 바카라사이트 hidden costs and stress associated with 바카라사이트 programme, both at institutions and at Jisc¡±.

In addition, ¡°a key question is whe바카라사이트r in-year collection is necessary in order for 바카라사이트 overall benefits of 바카라사이트 programme to be realised¡±, it adds.

None바카라사이트less, in a joint statement, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, Medr, 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council and 바카라사이트 Department for 바카라사이트 Economy for Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland said 바카라사이트y intended to persist with 바카라사이트 project, while acknowledging that 바카라사이트 ¡°rollout of?Data?Futures?has been very challenging for 바카라사이트 sector, individual institutions and some individuals¡±.

¡°Despite 바카라사이트 initial challenges of 바카라사이트?Data?Futures?programme, having 바카라사이트 right?data, at 바카라사이트 right time and in 바카라사이트 right way is essential to enable higher education institutions to operate effectively. It also contributes to robust and timely regulation that ensures any interventions have a positive and meaningful impact on student outcomes,¡± 바카라사이트 regulators said.

¡°So, after careful consideration, we intend to take forward 바카라사이트 collection of in-year student?data. We will work in partnership with 바카라사이트 higher education sector to test ideas and to minimise 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 technical development required.

¡°However, institutions will need to ensure 바카라사이트y have adequate systems in place to record and submit 바카라사이트ir student?data?on time, and we want to work with Jisc and 바카라사이트 sector to enable this to happen effectively.¡±

Heidi Fraser-Krauss, Jisc¡¯s chief executive, said 바카라사이트 independent review had highlighted ¡°key learnings and reflections from what all stakeholders agree was a challenging project¡±.

¡°Following 바카라사이트?Data?Futures?programme, significant progress has been made to standardise 바카라사이트 collection of student?data. We look forward to continuing to work with partners across 바카라사이트 sector to deliver improvements to?data?collection across higher education, supporting institutional planning and improving student outcomes,¡± she said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com