June 2007/14 (web only)
Policy development
Outcomes of the review
This report is for information
Review of performance indicators
Outcomes and decisions
This document provides the outcome of a review of the performance indicators for higher education. The indicators are produced by the Higher Education Statistics Agency for the UK funding councils. The overall picture is one of change only where needed, with no indicators dropped at present, but some extensions to existing indicators as well as one or two new ones suggested.
| To: | Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions Heads of SFC-funded higher education institutions Heads of HEFCW-funded higher education institutions Heads of universities in Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Of interest to those responsible for: | Management, Strategy, Planning, HESA data |
| Reference: | 2007/14 |
| Publication date: | June 2007 |
| Enquiries to: | Judy Akinbolu tel 0117 931 7110 e-mail j.akinbolu@hefce.ac.uk |
Table of contents and executive summary (read on-line)
Contents
- Executive summary
- Background
- Method for conducting the review
- Review of the First Report recommendations
- Developments since 1999
- Responses to the consultation
- Assessment of current indicators
- Assessment of proposed indicators included in the consultation
- Conclusions
- Future work
- Annex A Terms of reference for the review
- Annex B Members of the PISG and the review sub-group
- Annex C Respondents to the review consultation
- Annex D Responses to the consultation
- Annex E Summary of indicators proposed in the First Report
- Annex F Decisions made by the PISG
- List of abbreviations
Executive summary
Purpose
1. This document provides the outcome of a review of the performance indicators for higher education. The indicators are produced by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for the UK-wide Performance Indicators Steering Group (PISG).
Key points
2. The decisions made by the PISG are summarised in Annex F. They fall into five main areas:
- changes or extensions to existing indicators
- proposed new indicators
- sector summaries
- benchmarks
- general presentation and interpretation.
3. The overall picture is one of change only where needed, with no indicators dropped at present, but some extensions to existing indicators as well as one or two new ones suggested.
4. As part of the review, stakeholders were consulted about their views of the performance indicators (see HEFCE 2006/34). There were more than 100 responses, which are summarised in Annex D. Respondents were largely positive: they use the indicators in a variety of ways, and think they should be retained in their current format where feasible. Most found the benchmarks helpful, and in general were content with the factors used in their construction. Institutions saw the transfer of the indicators to HESA as a positive step. It had given them earlier access to their own indicators, showed them more clearly the link to the data they provided, and had led to earlier publication.
5. There were criticisms of the indicators, and we have tried to address these. Not all suggestions for change have been accepted, and we have set out our reasoning in the 'Conclusions' section.
Format of this document
6. This document covers the background to the indicators, the responses to the consultation, an assessment of existing and proposed indicators, and the conclusions and decisions made. The annexes contain further detail on these areas. For ease of reference, Annex F contains a summary of the decisions taken by the PISG, with full details provided in the 'Conclusions' section of the report.
Action required
7. No action is required. Institutions will be consulted about new indicators resulting from the proposals made here at a later stage.