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Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education record 2013/14

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Online DLHE guidance notes


Version 1.0 Produced 2014-02-18

Centrally-hosted online DLHE survey

The centrally-hosted online DLHE survey is a web-based implementation of the standard DLHE questionnaire. It has as far as is possible validation checks built into the questionnaire to ensure that core questions are answered and the response is internally consistent. The centrally-hosted online DLHE questionnaire is also available in the Welsh language for graduates from HEPs in Wales. Use of this online version is entirely optional, but higher education providers (HEPs) are encouraged to make it available. HEPs will need to subscribe to the survey system to make this method available to their graduates.

HEPs can download the responses from their leavers through the HESA data collection interface (submit.hesa.ac.uk). These responses will need to be SOC coded and then incorporated with the rest of the HEP's data submission.

Use of the centrally-hosted online DLHE survey by graduates

Leavers should be directed to www.dlhe.ac.uk using the standard email texts, available in both English and Welsh.

The first screen will be a language selection screen (English or Welsh). If the English language is selected, a map of the UK - split by country and region - will be displayed. From this map a list of HEPs in each region that are using the system will be displayed - the graduate should select the HEP from which they have graduated.

If the Welsh language is selected, a list of the HEPs in Wales that are using the system will be displayed - the leaver should select the HEP from which they have graduated.

The next stage will be for the leaver to enter their personal details: name, address, email address, title of course from which they graduated and, if specified by the HEP, a student identifier and/or PIN number (see below). Once complete, the leaver will then work through the standard questionnaire until they are instructed to 'Submit' their questionnaire.

By-passing the HEP and language selection

HEPs may link directly to the personal details page by using a web-reference in the form www.dlhe.ac.uk?INST=xxxx, where xxxx is the HESA institution identifier. If the institution identifier is that of an HEP in Wales the graduate will be directed to the language selection page and then the personal details page. If the HEP is not in Wales the graduate will be directed to the personal details page and the questionnaire will be presented in English.

Alternatively, HEPs may link directly to Section A of the survey by using a web-reference in the form www.dlhe.ac.uk?INST=xxxx&studentID=yyyy, where xxxx is the HESA institution identifier and yyyy is the own student's identifier. If the institution identifier is that of a HEP in Wales the graduate will be directed to the language selection page and then Section A. If the HEP is not in Wales the graduate will be directed to Section A and the questionnaire will be presented in English.

Use of the centrally-hosted online DLHE survey by HEPs

HEPs who intend to subscribe to the centrally-hosted online DLHE survey will need to configure the control panel. Configuration of the system for each HEP is via a simple control panel, accessed through the HESA data collection interface (submit.hesa.ac.uk). The control panel opens three weeks prior to the start of the 'Initial contact' period. Access codes will be sent to HEPs prior to the control panel opening.

There are five sections to the control panel:

  • A section to indicate whether or not the HEP wishes to be included in this service.
  • A section to indictate whether or not the HEP offers Teacher Training.
  • A section to indicate whether or not a student identifier question is included on the personal details screen.
  • A section to indicate whether or not a PIN question is included on the personal details screen.
  • A section allowing a HEP to re-label the student identifier label - it is acknowledged HEPs use a variety of names for the student identifier.

Only those HEPs that use the control panel to indicate their use of this service will be shown on the HEP selection page used by graduates.

The student identifier and PIN fields can be used by HEPs to aid the matching of responses to the DLHE target population list. For both of these fields their completion can be defined as mandatory, optional, or not used. If mandatory or optional are selected then the length of the fields can be specified and validated by the system. The student identifier can be specified up to 20 characters, and the PIN can be specified up to ten characters in length. If no length is specified then any length (up to the maximum lengths) will be allowed by the system.

Below is a picture of the Control Panel.

DLHE control panel

The control panel is locked on the day the system opens; HEPs that have not subscribed and configured the system by that time will be unable to use the centrally-hosted online DLHE system for that survey.

Support for HEPs and graduates

HESA will provide support to HEPs during normal office hours. Please therefore contact the Agency's Institutional Liaison team at HESA or email [email protected]. The first line of support for graduates should be the relevant HEP.

Contact Liaison by email or on +44 (0)1242 388 531.