July 2005/32 (web only)
Core funding/operations
Assurance and funding

This report is for information and guidance

---

2004-05 statistics derived from HESA data

Guide to HEFCE web facility

This document is a guide to HEFCE's web facility which generates several types of analysis from Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student data. Use of the web facility will help institutions to return accurate data to HESA, and to identify errors and forecasting discrepancies in HEFCE funding returns.

---

To:	Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions Heads of universities in Northern Ireland
Of interest to those responsible for:	Student data, Audit, Finance
Reference:	2005/32
Publication date:	July 2005
Enquiries to:	Lauren Humphrey tel 0117 931 7373 Joe Clark tel 0117 931 7292 e-mail hesa_heses_stats@hefce.ac.uk

---

Table of contents and executive summary (read on-line)

---

---

Contents

Executive summary

Introduction

Annexes

Annex A	Summary of changes since the HEFCE web facility for 2003-04 statistics derived from HESA data
Annex B	Using the HEFCE web facility
Annex C	Comparison of HESES03 and the HESES03 re-creation
Annex D	Comparison of the HESES04 re-creation and the HESES04 re-creation based on cost centre sector norms for subjects
Annex E	Comparison of RAS04 and the RAS04 re-creation
Annex F	Derived statistics likely to inform the 2006-07 WP allocations
Annex G	Research degree rates of qualification
Annex H	Derived statistics used to monitor minority subject funding
Annex I	TTA performance profiles data for publication
Annex J	Research degree rates of qualification
Annex K	HEFCE regional statistics
Annex L	HESES05 non completion toolkit
	List of abbreviations

Technical appendices

Appendix 1	HESES04 re-creation algorithms
Appendix 2	Troubleshooting the differences between HESES04 and the HESES04 re-creation
Appendix 3	Problems of fit with the HESES04 re-creation algorithms
Appendix 4	HESES04 re-creation based on cost centre sector norms for subjects algorithms
Appendix 5	Troubleshooting the differences between the HESES04 re-creation and the HESES04 re-creation based on cost centre sector norms for subjects
Appendix 6	Problems of fit with the HESES04 re-creation based on cost centre sector norms for subjects algorithms
Appendix 7	RAS04 re-creation algorithms
Appendix 8	Troubleshooting the differences between RAS04 and the RAS04 re-creation
Appendix 9	Problems of fit with the RAS04 re-creation algorithms
Appendix 10	2006-07 WP allocation algorithms
Appendix 11	Research degree rates of qualification algorithms *
Appendix 12	HEFCE regional statistics algorithms
Appendix 13	HESES05 non-completion toolkit algorithms

*    Appendix 11 is not yet available and will be put on the HEFCE web-site in the near future.

---

Executive summary

Purpose

1.    This document is a guide to HEFCE's web facility which institutions can use to check their 2004-05 Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student data. It generates the following derived statistics:

1. Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey 2004-05 (HESES04) re-creation.
2. HESES04 re-creation based on cost centre sector norms for subjects.
3. Research Activity Survey 2004 (RAS04) re-creation.
4. Derived statistics that are likely to be used to inform the 2006-07 widening participation allocation.
5. Research degree rates of qualification.
6. Derived statistics used to monitor minority subject funding.
7. Teacher Training Agency (TTA) performance profile data.
8. Derived statistics that will be used in HEFCE regional statistics.
9. Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey 2005-06 (HESES05) non completion toolkit.

Key points

2.    The use of the web facility is strongly encouraged as it will assist institutions in:

1. The return of accurate data to HESA.
2. Identifying discrepancies between forecasts made in HESES04 and the outturn position for 2004 05.
3. Identifying errors in HEFCE funding returns.
4. Making informed estimations of non-completion rates for HESES05.
5. Ensuring research degree rates of qualification, regional statistics, and TTA performance profiles data are suitable for publication.

3.    This document, together with the accompanying technical appendices provides:

1. Guidance for using the web facility.
2. Algorithms used in the production of the derived statistics.
3. Guidance on troubleshooting the differences between the HEFCE funding returns and the re-creations.
4. Details of problems of fit with algorithms.
5. Guidance for using the HESES05 non completion toolkit.

New outputs

4.    The following two outputs are new to this year's web facility:

1. Derived statistics used to monitor minority subject funding.
2. TTA performance profile data.

Additionally, and unlike in previous years, this will be the only opportunity to ensure research degree rates of qualification and regional statistics are suitable for publication.

Action required

5.    Use of this web facility is optional, but we strongly encourage institutions to use it as part of their data quality processes. A review of the web facility has confirmed that it will be an essential element of the majority of higher education institutions' 2004-05 HESA data quality processes. This review also revealed that institutions that do not use the facility are more likely to be selected in the monitoring exercise described in paragraph 6.

Relationship with 'Statistics derived from HESA data'

6.    Annually we publish 'Statistics derived from HESA data for monitoring and allocation of funding' in which we monitor institutions' HESES and RAS returns using HESA student data. Our funding allocations are informed by the data provided by institutions. If we find, either through reconciliations with HESA data, or any data audit, that data do not reflect the outturn position for the year, and that this has resulted in institutions receiving incorrect funding allocations, then we will adjust their funding accordingly (subject to the appeals process and the availability of our funds). Any funding adjustments arising from the reconciliation of a re-creation of HESES04 from HESA 2004-05 student data (the HESES04 re-creation) with HESES04 or from the comparison of cost centre assignments with the sector norms for subjects, are likely to affect the funding previously announced for 2004-05 and all subsequent years. In recent years the vast majority of institutions selected for the monitoring exercise have had their funding adjusted because we have identified that data do not reflect the outturn position for the year, and that this has resulted in them receiving incorrect funding allocations.

7.    Any funding adjustments arising from the reconciliation of RAS04 with a re-creation of RAS04 from HESA 2004-05 student data (the RAS04 re-creation) are likely to affect the funding previously announced for 2005-06.

8.    While the web facility is provided to complement the monitoring exercise it does not replace it.