I had a phone call yesterday (Weds 30) from Nick Rodriguez (0171 782
5656) of the Sunday Times who said he was working on an article on the
social class of students and wanted to know if we could give him any
data for our institution.
He seemed unaware about the controversy surrounding either their own
'University Guide' (Alistair McCall) or the HEFCE PIs data. I took him
through the HEFCE data explaining the different tables but told him that
this data was provisional and wouldn't be published for several months.
I said I wasn't prepared to give him our own figures - although he did
press me several times - because the figures were still provisional and
in any case one needed to compare like with like. I explained the
difference between social class determined by occupation and
neighbourhood background determined by postcode, and advised him to
contact John Thompson and Judy Akinbolu at HEFCE and also Gaie
Davidson-Burnet at UCAS if he wanted data.
I also explained that we believed that our institution had been very
successful in recruiting students from lower social classes and poorer
backgrounds - but that this would only become confirmed when the data
was released in the next few months.
Goodness knows what they'll print!
In the light of the response from CVCP and to this list on the ST
'University Guide' request, could anyone reveal whether they will
definitely be providing them with 1998-99 updated data?
Mike Milne-Picken
Head of Planning
University of Central Lancashire
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From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Sunday Times requests
Date: 01 July 1999 15:21
As far as I am aware this report was worded as being in confidence and
for consultation. Is anyone aware of something happening since that I
have missed or left in my intray.
If anyone from the HEFCE sees this can they possibly give advice?
Simon Latham
Assistant Planning Officer
University of Surrey
01483 873854
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From: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 01 July 1999 14:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Sunday Times requests
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Yes,
I have had numerous e-mails from our PR staff about this. HEFCE
produced
some geodemographic data on students, based on HESA data. This was back
in September last year, and institutions could request the data for
their
own institution, which we duly did. (The HEFCE contact at the time was
Mark Corver if you need to follow this up). The analysis was postcode
based. Most of the correspondence I have seen has been from
institutions
unhappy about the idea of divulging this information given its
sensitivity, although there have been admissions of some paranoia based
on past dealings with the press.
I think HEFCE were alive to the fact that this was sensitive
information,
so this may be why the Sunday Times is approaching indivdual
institutions, although I get the impression that HEFCE was planning to
publish eventually.
Good Luck!
-----Original Message-----
From: PLDJBROA [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 1999 5:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Sunday Times requests
At Liverpool John Moores University, in addition to the
request for the updated HESA information and the PI data,
the Sunday Times have also asked for some data that ALL
universities have produced on social class for HEFCE.
Can anyone shed any light on what it is they are talking
about?
Having just returned from maternity leave and with my
line manager on annual leave I am having difficulty
finding the information they are refering to.
Thanks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jane Broad
Planning Officer
Liverpool John Moores University
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