19 June 2007
Continued support for higher education performance indicators
A report on the review of higher education performance indicators, published today by HEFCE, shows that universities and colleges, and other users, are generally positive about them.
The review was carried out by the Performance Indicators Steering Group (PISG), which decided that there should only be minor changes to the existing indicators, and that none of them should be dropped at present.
Higher education performance indicators, introduced in 1999, are used in a variety of ways, for example for internal management purposes or for comparisons between higher education institutions (HEIs). Respondents taking part in the review said that they should be retained in their current format where possible. There was also general agreement that the benchmarks for the performance indicators were helpful.
The PISG considered the recommendations coming out of the review, and largely accepted them. Short-term, the indicators will not change, although the PISG will look at extending some of the indicators to other groups of students. For example, the non-continuation rates which currently only cover full-time undergraduates will be extended to part-time undergraduates if this proves feasible, and employment indicators which are produced for graduates from full-time first degree courses will be extended to graduates from other undergraduate courses, both full and part-time.
Some respondents in the review made suggestions on the presentation of the performance indicators. All the sector-level results will be promoted further by bringing them together into a new section. As well as the existing supplementary tables, which provide the indicators split by subject and entry qualifications, new tables will be included covering non-continuation rates broken down by ethnic group and by disability.
John Selby, HEFCE Widening Participation Director and Chair of PISG, said:
'Since they were introduced eight years ago, the performance indicators have been a useful management tool for universities and colleges and a valuable indicator of performance in the sector as a whole. They provide a robust and accurate set of data which are both highly valued by institutions as they measure their own performance and are of considerable public interest. It is pleasing that they have been so strongly supported in the responses in this review.'
Bill Rammell Minister for Higher Education, said:
'I welcome HEFCE's report on the review of higher education Performance Indicators (PIs). I am pleased that their review shows that these indicators have the support and confidence of the sector as they are important in providing valuable data on access to higher education, employment following graduation, and retention of students all of which enable the Government and other stakeholders to understand the sector's overall performance as well as helping to inform institutional planning. In addition, I welcome the review's proposals to develop new PIs. These new PIs will help to give us a wider and more sensitive picture of participation in HE by non-traditional students which will inform our continuing work on improving access.'
None of the recommendations will take effect in this year's publication of the performance indicators, due to be published in July. Some will be implemented next year - for example, the new section of sector results - but many will take longer to implement.
Notes
1. The report was published by HEFCE on behalf of the UK-wide Performance Indicators Steering Group (PISG) as HEFCE 2007/14.
2. The performance indicators are published annually by HESA.
3. A consultation document was issued in August 2006 (HEFCE 2006/34) as part of a review of the higher education performance indicators. The results of the consultation and discussions with a range of stakeholders have fed into this review.