Last May, HESA launched a first-stage consultation on measuring graduate outcomes, with the aim to ‘determine what should replace the current Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey’. The consultation closed nine weeks later.
In October, it published an analysis of the 208 responses it received, revealing that there was overwhelming support for the continuation of the survey, and that the responses would be used to develop a proposal for a new survey and an implementation plan. See our coverage here.
The aim of the review was to consider key elements of the DHLE.
Proposals have created a ‘new model of collecting graduate outcomes data that can remain a trusted source of data for a range of public users, and which offers providers new national measures that may be suitable as part of institutional TEF submissions’.
Some of the key aims listed in the document as for the New DLHE model are:
- Open centralisation which consists of data processing, data access, model governance and administration.
- Contact methods: the main method being by telephone and an online survey, with postal surveys no longer an option
- Survey timing: graduates will be surveyed at 15 months after study completion
- Response rates: rates below 70% per provider will not be accepted
- There are proposals for new questions for graduate entrepreneurs
- Anticipation that for graduates who work in the UK, that HMRC-derived data will be used to replace salary in HESA’s National Statistics products
- Questions about previous employment (PREVEMP) will only be asked where a graduate has told us they have been previously employed
- HE providers will be able to add their own questions
This Monday 6 February, HESA launched a ‘second and final consultation as part of the NewDHLE review’, which closes Friday 7th April. Unlike the previous consultation last year which had over a hundred question, this final one only has six on graduate outcomes, with the first six on respondent information. The questions are as follows:
1. To what extent do you support the proposed survey design for our new model of collecting graduate outcomes data?
2. To what extent do you support the proposed practicalities and management of our new model of collecting graduate outcomes data (incl. methodology, governance, linked data and data outputs)?
3. To what extent do you support the proposed financial plan for our model of collecting graduate outcomes data?
4. To what extent do you support the proposed implementation plan for our new model of collecting graduate outcomes data?
5. As far as you are able to assess at this stage, what are likely to be the key areas of impact of the proposed changes for your organisation?
6. What measures could be taken to support your organisation in implementing this model?
7. Any further comments