The document summarizes an event discussing two projects aimed at improving the transparency and efficiency of higher education data collection in England. Project A will map the current regulatory system, while Project B ("Information Landscape") will review current data collection and identify opportunities to reduce duplication and burden. The projects aim to align data needs with a new regulatory framework, make information more open and useful, and engage stakeholders in developing principles and potential solutions.

1. Transparency, evidence and change –
Information that is fit for purpose
Alison Allden
Chief Executive
The Higher Education
Statistics Agency
AUA Planning Forum, Leeds
February 2012
Landscape images courtesy of David Hockney

2. The future direction?

3. Interim Regulatory Partnership Group
(IRPG)
• Established September 2011
• To advise on and oversee the
transition to the new regulatory and
funding systems for higher
education in England
• Interim in status pending outcomes
of DBIS consultation
• http://www.hefce.ac.uk/aboutus/irpg/

4. Interim Regulatory Partnership Group
(IRPG)
HEFCE and SLC as joint chairs
• HESA
• Office for Fair Access
• Office of Independent
Adjudicator
• Quality Assurance Agency
Observers:
UUK, GuildHE, NUS, UCAS

5. Interim Regulatory Partnership Group
(IRPG)
Two projects:
• Project A: Mapping the current
HE regulatory system
• Project B: Review of the data
and information landscape

6. Project A: Mapping the Current
HE regulatory system
Timescale:
• By March 2012 – a map of the current
HE system from perspective of
students, providers and regulatory
bodies
• By June 2012 –
recommendations, identifying
opportunities for change
• Project team:
David James (HEFCE)
Therese Russell (Deloittes)
Steering Group Chair:
David Wallace (SLC)

7. Project A: Mapping the Current
HE regulatory system
Project Aims
• A comprehensive map of the present English HE funding and
regulatory system
• Complemented by a commentary on how that system is potentially
impacted by the further changes that the Government wants.
• It will be more tentative if – as seems likely – we have not at that
point seen the Government’s conclusions following its White Paper
and Technical consultations.
• There is then a potential phase 2 to the project which will aim to
develop a target operating model for the whole of the new funding
and regulatory system for HE.
• This might involve revisions to the roles and responsibilities of
agencies in the system.

8. Background to Project B
• Principles of Better Regulation –
HEBRG
• HEBRG Survey of data collection
• Map of the current Information
Landscape
• Vision for future Information
Landscape
• Delivered to BIS Dec 2010
• White Paper Reference 2011
• Project Launched 2012

9. HEBRG Survey of Data results
• Approximately 550 lines of external reporting
were identified
• The amount of external reporting is linked to
specific subjects or types of activity undertaken
by institutions
• The reports and returns have been grouped into
seven main categories
• Different universities control and manage data
returns in different ways

10. HEBRG Survey of Data results
HE funding bodies Returns required by organisations whose primary function includes funding higher
education; includes funding councils, research councils, TDA. This category includes
some systematic duplication due to different funding bodies operating in different parts
of the UK
HE regulation and Returns required by sector organisations whose primary function is something other
reporting than funding; includes HESA, QAA, OFFA, OIA
NHS bodies A variety of national and regional NHS organisations; includes strategic health
authorities
Optional A broad category for optional returns, including data supplies to Press/media, sector
surveys/publications bodies, and optional accreditation bodies; also Includes benchmarking surveys
Other funding bodies Bodies that distribute funding to a range of organisations, including HE institutions
Professional/academic Usually linked to specific departments and/or courses and often Involves the award of a
accreditation professional status to successful graduates
Statutory reporting A broad category that covers statutory reporting that is not specific to HE; includes
Companies House, pensions, local councils, equality, Energy, FoI. Also includes
regulation of specific controlled substances and scientific procedures

11. HEBRG survey of data collection
HE funding bodies
HE regulation and reporting
NHS
Optional
surveys/publications
Other funding bodies
Professional/academic
accreditation
Statutory reporting

12. Map of current Information Landscape

13. Vision of future Information Landscape

14. Higher Education White Paper –
Putting Students at the Heart of the System
• The Higher Education White Paper
• A new system that:
– Meets the needs of a wider group of users
– Reduces duplication
– Results in timelier and more relevant data
• Also work with other government departments
– Secure buy-in to reducing the burden

15. Information Landscape Project risks
• Constraint of time
• Constraint of resource
• Issue of size
• Issue of complexity
• Required engagement
• Governance

16. Information Landscape Proposed Scope
• Focus on issues around student
and course data – potential
biggest wins for
– Reducing burden
– Improving information
availability/accessibility
• Aim for greatest breadth, even if
this means some compromise on
depth (in this initial project)

17. Information Landscape Proposed Scope -
UK issue
• The extent to which the HE
data and information
landscape is a UK-wide
system
• This project is the result of an
English initiative (and English
funding)
• Working across the UK brings
both risks and opportunities

18. Information Landscape Proposed Scope -
Further Issues
• Data transparency and data sharing
– Legal considerations
– IPR
– Linking data
• Terminology and data Standards
– Courses report
– Information Standards Board
– JISC CETIS
– HESA definitions
• Policy and processes that require data
– KIS, AAB
– Project A

19. Transparency and the HE White Paper
(2.18) But it should be possible to go much further. We are therefore
asking the major holders of student data – the Higher Education
Statistics Agency, UCAS, HEFCE and the SLC – to make more data
available on their websites in a re-usable format, and at more detailed
levels (such as by institution and course) so that, for example, students
can compare likely future earnings. We will welcome feedback and
challenge on whether this is successfully taking place.
Ref HE White Paper Para 2.18

20. Higher Education White Paper
Putting Students at the Heart of the System
• The issue, for the most part, is not the
existence or collection of the data, but;
• How it can be made available and linked
in ways that make sense to potential
students, their
families, schools, employers and others
with an interest.
• Each university will now make the most
requested items available on its
website, on an easily comparable basis.
• Information about each course, together
with information about course charges, is
called the Key Information Set (KIS).

21. Press Release BIS
Minister commits Government to easing burdens on universities
Minister commits Government to easing burdens on universities
19 January 2012 12:15 Politeia Winter Address
The Minister will also say that the Government has listened to calls from universities
about the cost of data collection:
"I have discussed the issue of data collection with people from across the HE
sector, and there is a widespread desire to go back to first principles. We need
to establish precisely what information we already collect, what we actually
need and why – and to reconcile the two, so that collection is useful and
proportionate for all institutions concerned.
“I'm pleased that the Information Landscape project – launched just last
month, and with input from all parts of the sector – is seeking answers to these
essential questions. The project website goes live tomorrow. Participants will be
identifying any 'quick wins' for easing the burden on universities, as well as
publishing a road map for implementing a simpler model overall."

22. Principles
We would welcome views on the
number and level of principles:
• Getting the principles right at
the outset will pay dividends
• Buy-in to the principles is
essential to frame future work
• Landscape principles

23. Proposed Principles
• Pursue the aim of ‘collect once use
many times’ wherever
practicable, working to align different
bodies to avoid duplication of effort.
• Enable the collection of
essential, comprehensive, consistent
and timely information that meets the
requirements of the new regulatory
framework in England and is, so far as
possible, fit for purpose across the UK
HE landscape.
• Achieve efficiency and data sharing
through the development and adoption
of information and technical standards.

24. Proposed Principles (cont.)
• Ensure any data can be trusted and
attributed to its provenance by defining
robust quality assurance processes.
• Foster open access to information wherever
possible while respecting IPR, DPA and
other regulatory, statutory and information
management requirements for the
processing of data.
• Seek to manage demands for increased
data collection and mitigate these through
well-targeted use of technology, looking
where possible to streamline data collection.

25. What is the Information Landscape
project for?
• The first meeting of the Project Steering Group
was held on 11 January chaired by Steve Egan
Deputy Chief Executive and Director (Finance
and Corporate Resources) HEFCE
• Each of the group members was invited to share
their expectations and hopes for the project and
the ‘Wordle’ shows the terms that came up most
frequently. The size of each word or phrase
reflects its popularity

26. What is the Information Landscape
project for?

27. What is burden?
Policy and data? No reasons for data?
Wrong and unhelpful data? Statutory Customers and HEIs?
Not useful to those who provide it?
Too much data?
Requirements not clearly defined and agreed?
Duplicate Review Process not asking right people?
Record
requests? Not used by those who receive it?

28. The Project Deliverables
• Stakeholder Engagement and • Data Available / Systems
Communications Strategy Inventory
• Communications Plan • Known and used standards -
• Communications (including information and technical
project website, mailing list) • Roadmap (including identification
• Workshops of early wins)
• Interviews • High-level Feasibility study to
• Information Requirements identify options for change and
Analysis deliver an impact analysis to
inform further work

29. Engage with the project
http://landscape.hesa.ac.uk
• Join our online Briefing Session
The project team will hold an online briefing session on
Wednesday 15 February from 11am to midday. Project
Director, Andy Youell will give a short presentation and the
project team will be on hand to answer questions and receive
feedback.
• Join our JISCMAIL List
HE-INFO-LANDSCAPE@jiscmail.ac.uk
(Sign up at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/HE-INFO-LANDSCAPE)