Of course, the algorithm HEFCE will use will have no bearing on our actions as we’ll all be returning complete and accurate data on entry qualifications!

 

Those who’ve looked at the quality of data in the UCAS *J file for this year will know that correcting the errors and filling in the gaps was/will be a big task. On top of that, we now have the incentive not to do it for one year (so as few students as possible are taken out of our SNCs). To base such a significant calculations on data that very rarely, if ever, gets audited, and is of questionable quality at source (we place minimal reliance on the *J file, but I sometimes wonder how much other institutions trust it) is a huge risk for HEFCE and the government. In a reasonable society, I would hope taking such a course of action in such a rush would not be allowed; but the fact HEFCE are even suggesting it is worrying. I would like to believe that all institutions return complete and accurate data on entry qualifications each year, but I don’t see the evidence of that.

 

HEFCE have come up with an equally strange idea in http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/circlets/2011/cl17_11/ around recording of students on non-standard years, at least for anyone who has grown provision on non-standard years since 2007-08.

 

Being fair though, many of the suggestions seem quite sensible, there’s just the odd one or two that haven’t been properly thought through (or, for the conspiracy theorists, is designed for purposes other than those stated).

 

These views are all my own, and don’t necessarily represent my University, in case that needed making clear.

 

Ray

 

 

Ray Lashley

 

Senior Planning Officer

University of Essex

http://www.essex.ac.uk/planning/contacts

 

 

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2011/11_20/

One of the most important circulars from HEFCE since it was formed in my humble view …

 

Leaving aside the small issue over whether it is a good idea for the government, having failed lamentably to create a market based around price, to now try to stimulate one based around entry qualifications …

 

on the rather narrower technical issue of the HESA Student return 2010/11 due in less than three months being trawled to adjust the Student Number Control 2012-13 to exclude  the ‘AAB equivalent’ group, I have written to HEFCE on three matters:

1)     The omission of the Scottish Advanced Higher award from Annex C

2)     The position of high-performing EU students from outside the British Isles and the impact on institutions that have a high proportion of such students

3)     The need for HEFCE to publish as soon as possible the algorithms which they will use on the HESA return 2010-11 to calculate the SNC adjustment, and preferably before the deadline for HESA submission (one lives in hope).

 

I would hope that all institutions would agree with 3) but if anyone shares problems and issues associated with 1) and 2) I’ll be happy to exchange info off list.

 

Regards

 

 

Mike Milne-Picken
Academic Registrar

Royal Northern College of Music
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