RPG/59
7 October 2015
Agenda item 7
Issue
1. Developments in the collection of sector-wide management information
Recommendations
2. The Regulatory Partnership Group is invited to:
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Note the developments in the HESA Data Futures Programme
Note the current and planned HEDIIP activity for the remainder of the programme
Agree the simplification of future reporting to RPG
Further Information
3. Further information can be obtained from Andy Youell, Director, Higher Education Data
Information Improvement Programme

Background
4. The Regulatory Partnership Group (RPG) played the leading role in co-ordinating the sector’s response to the call for the redesign of the information landscape in higher education
(HE), which was made in the 2011 White Paper “Students at the heart of the system”. Since the establishment of the Higher Education Data and Information Improvement Programme (HEDIIP) in 2013 it has received regular progress reports.
5. At its last meeting in June 2015 RPG was informed of the findings of the HEDIIPsponsored “New landscape” report, which laid out a vision for the future information landscape that had been called for in the White Paper. It identified four key elements:
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An information landscape governance board, underpinned by common data principles to provide oversight
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Development of a common data set
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Rationalisation of data collections through a transformed HESA data collection process
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Improved data capability
6. It also heard about the proposed HESA programme “Change in Approach of the Collection of HE Data” (CACHED), which is intended to modernise the collection of data from the HE sector, so that high quality data is produced more quickly and with greater coverage for use by institutions, funders and policy makers. The aim of the programme is for HESA to provide a flexible, efficient and comprehensive data service, which would have the effect of reducing the burden of collection for institutions as well as making data more readily available on the principle of “collect once, use multiple times”. The programme has now been rebranded as HESA Data
Futures.
7. RPG recognised the importance of the work to redesign the data collection and information landscape. It noted that the Data Futures and HEDIIP programmes are inextricably linked; Data
Futures delivers components of the broader HEDIIP vision and the two programme will come together during the current year to form a platform for future developments. Members welcomed and supported that convergence.
Discussion
8. The development of the data landscape was discussed at the HEFCE Board meeting on 2
July 2015 and proposals to transform data collection in HE, with a focus on a more efficient system of in-year data collection by HESA, were welcomed. HEFCE has an interest in promoting efficiency and value for money in the sector, while the delivery of robust and timely data is also in the Council’s interest for the discharge of its regulatory role. All the UK HE funders have agreed in principle to support the cost of upgrading the infrastructure to enable the transformation to take place.
9. Next steps will involve a. a sector-wide consultation on the HESA Data Futures programme (launched on 28
September with a deadline of 18 December) b. detailed costing and planning (ongoing)
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c. establishment of a governance structure for the HESA Data Futures programme (after the consultation closes) d. initiation of procurement of systems and equipment
Recommendation 1:
RPG is invited to note the developments in the HESA Data Futures Programme
10. HEDIIP has funding in place from the four UK HE funders until July 2016. It has published a plan of work for that period of time which focusses on the four elements defined in the New
Landscape report. This includes the establishment of the landscape governance board, the development of a standard student data specification and the completion of existing projects to develop a new subject coding system and to improve standards of data management and governance across the landscape.
11. Governance structures are recognised to be particularly important and plans for an ongoing data landscape governance board – as described in the HEDIIP New Landscape report – are now being developed. The board will be hosted by HESA and will provide a forum to bring data collectors together to more effectively manage and coordinate requirements and seek to rationalise data flows through the transformed HESA data collection process.
12. The management and the stakeholder communications of the HEDIIP and the HESA Data
Futures programmes are now coming together and as the HEDIIP projects run out, HESA will become the focal point of this agenda. It is therefore proposed that future reports to RPG will be led by HESA.
Recommendation 2:
RPG is invited to note the the current and planned HEDIIP activity for the remainder of the programme and the simplification of future reporting to RPG.
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