Dear Colleagues,
We felt it might be helpful to provide some more background information to those considering the implications for their HE institutions of the HESA Destinations of Leavers from HE (DLHE) longitudinal survey.
DLHE was formulated as a two-stage survey with an early follow-up of all leavers capturing the position after six months together with a later sample follow-up. Currently only the early survey has been implemented and as such, the only regular follow-up of leavers takes place six-months after completion of programmes. Arrangements for the longitudinal follow-up survey are currently under discussion by a working party consisting of representatives of HESA, its statutory customers, HE institutions and those with experience of conducting similar surveys. The resulting proposal will be put to consultation with HE institutions later this year. A number of working assumptions have already been made, including the fact that the survey will be managed and administered centrally, placing limited burden on institutions. A pilot survey is planned for the end of 2005 using contact details from volunteer institutions and it is hoped that this pilot will allow methodological issues to be identified ahead of the first full survey at the end of 2006.
The implementation of the DLHE longitudinal survey is dependent on obtaining accurate contact details for the sample population. Thus satisfying data protection principles is essential and has always been high on the priority list. The 2002/03 cohort of leavers is the first that can be considered for follow-up because they are the first to be informed of the possibility of future contact. This information was included in the standard documentation to the 2002/03 and 2003/04 early surveys and this practice will continue in future. The standard documentation includes data protection collection notices covering the use of data and information about the current and future use of the leaver's contact details, although it would seem that in some institutions it is possible that conflicting messages about use of contact details have been given to graduates by others in the institution. The HESA documentation includes the following:
a) notification that the leavers may be contacted as part of a sample follow-up survey
b) an opportunity to opt-out of it.
The documentation for the DLHE can be found within the coding manuals on the HESA website as 'Text for covering letters':
2002/03: http://www.hesa.ac.uk/manuals/02018/dlhe.htm
2003/04: http://www.hesa.ac.uk/manuals/03018/dlhe0304.htm
The new student collection notice (covering HESA's activities and those of its statutory customers) which was introduced in August 2004 also covers the DLHE longitudinal survey http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dataprot/collnotices.htm
HESA would expect HE institutions to record which students do not want to be contacted for this survey (or at all).
These students could then be removed from the sample and HE institutions not required to pass over their contact details. Appropriate security arrangements would be made for those contact details passed to HESA and they would not be used for purposes other than those connected with the survey. The practicalities of this will be investigated as part of the pilot survey.
Anne Deverell
Data Protection Manager
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
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