There was a flurry of correspondence in mid-November concerning
the invitation by Mayfield University Consultants (MUC), who
produce the Times Good University Guide (TGUG), to respond to
their consultation on the subject definitions and mappings they
proposed to use. It became apparent during those discussions that:
a)MUC's proposals would lead to the exclusion from their data and
analysis of ALL students on JOINT programmes;
b)MUC did not appreciate the scale of this across the sector
("... joints have very small intakes ... ");
c)MUC did not appreciate the enormity of the task they were
asking universities to perform, in terms of identifying in detail
for each subject table where the data would be
incomplete/misleading;
d)MUC were not prepared to re-specify their data requirements
with HESA to ensure that information on JOINT programmes be
included in the data that HESA was to supply.
One has to ask, therefore:
a)How did MUC expect universities to assist them in ensuring that
"... within the limits of the methodology, the tables are as
accurate and fair as possible ..." when advice from the sector
is taken on board?
b)How could this exercise been deemed to be "consultative"?
c)Why did HESA, in working with MUC to draw up the original data
specification, not advised MUC as to the significant flaw in
their original specification of data requirements and provide
them with full JOINT data, a fairly straightforward exercise?
On speaking to a member of HESA at a recent conference I was told
that, whilst he was confident that the relevant staff would have
advised MUC of the flaws in their specification, " ... ultimately
if that is what they ask for, then that is what we will give
them ...".
I trust that I am not alone in considering this to be an
unsatisfactory response. The sector owns HESA. HESA has a
duty of care to ensure that, in supplying data on the HE sector
to third parties, the data is accurate and thus the best
interests of the sector are served. To suggest that incorrect,
and therefore potentially damaging, data is released by HESA
solely because that is what they have been asked to provide, is
to completely disregard that duty.
I would welcome comments. I would be particularly interested to
know how other universities with substantial joint provision have
responded to this 'consultation' - have they responded? I would
also like to know how MUC and Times Newspapers are going to deal
with this.
----------------------
Judy Evans
Head of Management Information
University of North London
166-220 Holloway Road
London N7 8DB
tel : 020 7753 5146
fax : 020 7753 5120
email : [log in to unmask]
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