2024-06-06
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Study Abroad
The UK sector’s data pitfalls must be fixed as a “matter of urgency”
UK Universities Drowning in Data Deficits: Report Calls for Urgent Fix
The UK sector’s data pitfalls must be fixed as a “matter of urgency”
The IHEC report "Data Matters in Higher Education" urgently underscores the importance of data in shaping the future of international higher education in the UK. The report is a call to action to initiate a dialogue among stakeholders about the necessary improvements by highlighting the current data collection and dissemination shortcomings. Here's a recap of the key points:
1. Delayed and Incomplete Data: The Home Office's lack of timely and comprehensive immigration data affects understanding of international student trends and the quality of decision-making.
2. Data Lag: The extended delay in HESA data (now up to two years) is a significant obstacle to real-time decision-making, especially compared to the more immediate data available from private sources.
3. Graduate Outcomes: The low response rate to the graduate outcome survey undermines the reliability of data on graduate employment and further education, which is essential for informing prospective students and institutions.
4. Net Migration Figures: The report calls for a more accurate accounting of international students in net migration statistics, proposing that only long-term students (staying more than one year) should be included.
5. Data Futures Program: The report highlights the potential benefits of accelerating the Data Futures program, which could significantly reduce the time lag in data collection and reporting. This would provide more up-to-date information on student numbers and outcomes, a crucial step towards improving the sector's data landscape.
6. International Education Exports: The report suggests adopting a more cohesive approach to reporting education exports, akin to Australia's model, to better reflect the economic contribution of higher education to the UK.
7. Employability Evidence: More substantial data on the employability of international graduates is needed to guide prospective students in their decision-making process regarding studying in the UK.
The report underscores the high stakes, emphasizing that the UK's international higher education sector will struggle to maintain its global competitiveness and make informed strategic decisions without reliable, timely data. It calls for a concerted effort from all stakeholders to address these issues and harness the power of data to drive the sector forward, a crucial step towards securing the sector's future.
1. Delayed and Incomplete Data: The Home Office's lack of timely and comprehensive immigration data affects understanding of international student trends and the quality of decision-making.
2. Data Lag: The extended delay in HESA data (now up to two years) is a significant obstacle to real-time decision-making, especially compared to the more immediate data available from private sources.
3. Graduate Outcomes: The low response rate to the graduate outcome survey undermines the reliability of data on graduate employment and further education, which is essential for informing prospective students and institutions.
4. Net Migration Figures: The report calls for a more accurate accounting of international students in net migration statistics, proposing that only long-term students (staying more than one year) should be included.
5. Data Futures Program: The report highlights the potential benefits of accelerating the Data Futures program, which could significantly reduce the time lag in data collection and reporting. This would provide more up-to-date information on student numbers and outcomes, a crucial step towards improving the sector's data landscape.
6. International Education Exports: The report suggests adopting a more cohesive approach to reporting education exports, akin to Australia's model, to better reflect the economic contribution of higher education to the UK.
7. Employability Evidence: More substantial data on the employability of international graduates is needed to guide prospective students in their decision-making process regarding studying in the UK.
The report underscores the high stakes, emphasizing that the UK's international higher education sector will struggle to maintain its global competitiveness and make informed strategic decisions without reliable, timely data. It calls for a concerted effort from all stakeholders to address these issues and harness the power of data to drive the sector forward, a crucial step towards securing the sector's future.
