The Higher Education Information Management Task Force is currently looking at
a national student identifier.  I am only an associate member (on behalf of
SROC) so do not attend meetings but get the papers.  The secretariat is from
HESA and there are reps from UUK SCOP, DfES, HEFCE, HESA, UCAS, UCISA, SLC,
etc on the Taskforce.

Dennis Barrington-Light
Director, CamSIS Project
University of Cambridge,
10 Peas Hill, Cambridge CB2 3PN, UK
Tel: +44(0)1223 332303  Fax: +44(0)1223 331200
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]





Michael Milne-picken <[log in to unmask]> on 22/03/2002 09:40:02

Please respond to Admin-student <[log in to unmask]>

To:   [log in to unmask]
cc:    (bcc: Dennis Barrington-Light/ACD/Central-Admin)

Subject:  Re: Reducing Data Entry Requirements




Some years ago there was the idea developed of a 'post-16 education and
training identification number' and related smartcard.

In the same way that every 16 year old is given their NI number, people would
get an education and training number and a smart card.  Adults would be added
as and when they entered an education and training programme through a
national registration system.

The smart card would then be used to record the education credits and awards
the individual gained throughout their life, in the same way as the NI or DVLA
systems but using better technology.

The idea went cold - fears of a national identity card through the backdoor
and insufficient technology.  But things have moved on - we now have things
like photocard driving licences that operate as de facto id cards, mobile
phones that can be credited electronically in your cornershop, smartcards
everywhere - but in HE we are still punching data off handwritten forms!

Given the fiasco that has surrounded the introduction of Individual Learning
Accounts and the huge opportunities for fraud that the administration of these
opened up, surely it is time for HE and FE to get their act together and
advocate such a step to the government nationally?  The benefits in
administrative savings, improved quality of data on progression/efficiency and
fraud detection would be massive across the sector.  Applicants enrolling or
applying for courses would simply give their id number or present their
smartcard, and details of all previous awards and training would pass
automatically to the institution.

Isn't it time we started using 21st century technology to tackle this?

Mike Milne-Picken
Head of Planning & Performance Review
University of Central Lancashire
PRESTON
PR1 2HE
Tel: +44 (0)1772 892391
Fax: +44 (0)1722 892943
[log in to unmask]
www.uclan.ac.uk/other/planning

>>> [log in to unmask] 22 March 2002 08:58:52 >>>
Apologies for cross posting


We are looking at ways in which we could reduce the burden of data entry.
Obviously the greater use of UCAS data for HESA returns will help but we still
have significant numbers of students where staff currently have to enter the
relevant data.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried to deal with this
through other means such as document imaging, (especially SITS software
users), use of outside agencies to do the data entry, getting students to do
it when they register or any other ideas.

Please reply directly to me rather than to the list as a whole but if anyone
else wants a summary of the responses please let me know.

If you are going to be at either SROC or AUA and could spare some time to talk
through your experiences that would be very helpful, (over some liquid
refreshment of course !!).

Thanks

David Ealey

----------


David Ealey
Head of Student Records & Awards
University of North London
166-220 Holloway Road
London
N7 8DB
Phone 020 7753 3252 (Internal 2863)
e-mail [log in to unmask]