Thank you Brian for clarifying the position re : Experian, i was wondering
how Q-check and Experian intended to charge for this service, and if they
did charge potyential employers for this checking service wether
Universities would be able to provide an equally competitive ( charged )
service.
Laurence Brewer
City University
> Dennis & colleagues,
>
> The background to this was described in my letter to Vice-Chancellors
> and Principals of 13 January - text is given below.
>
>
>
> Brian
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
> 13 January 2000
>
>
> Dear Colleague
>
> Q-Check qualifications checking service
>
> I am writing to alert you to the fact that, during the coming week, a
> new qualifications checking service will be launched which will draw
> partly on HESA data. HESA has been encouraged by both CVCP and SCOP to
> participate in this service, and we have done so in such a way as to
> ensure that individual confidentiality and the provisions of the Data
> Protection Act are fully observed. The service will be launched at a
> press conference at Woburn House on Tuesday next, at which Lord Dearing
> will be the main speaker.
>
> The service, which will be operated by Q-Check Direct Limited in
> partnership with Experian, will enable employers to seek confirmation
> of the claimed qualifications of applicants for jobs, but only in the
> circumstance that the individual gives signed consent for his/her record
> to be interrogated. In the event that the system is unable to confirm a
> claimed qualification, it will not be assumed that the qualification is
> being incorrectly claimed, merely that the data is unavailable, in which
> case it will be for the employer to decide whether to approach the HE
> institution for confirmation.
>
> The HESA Board hopes that this service will not only reduce the demands
> made on institutions by employers seeking confirmation of
> qualifications, but will also benefit the honest graduates who make up
> the large majority.
>
>
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
>
> --------------------------------------
>
>
> >----------
> >From: Dennis Barrington-Light[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> >Sent: 17 January 2000 10:50
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Experian, HESA and verifying degrees.
> >
> >
> >
> >I see from the Telegraph today that a company called Experian are offering
> >employers a service to check degree qualifications in conjunction with HESA.
> >Does anyone know about this? How will it work? Are they going to use HESA
> >data to provide this check? If so how does this square with the Data
> >Protection Act? In my view the data has been proved for statistical purposes
> >only and to use it for another purpose would require consent. If HESA data
> >is
> >to be used I am also not clear what will happen if an HEI failed to include a
> >qualification awarded in a HESA return by mistake and, as a result, the
> >student failed to get a job - who would be liable?
> >
> >Dennis Barrington-Light
> >Head of Student Records and Statistics
> >University of Cambridge, 10 Peas Hill, Cambridge CB2 3PN
> >Tel: 01223-332303 (Direct line) Fax: 01223-331200
> Email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
>
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