Graduate Outcomes data awarded Official Statistics Accreditation

New report by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) awards the kitemark of ‘Accredited Official Statistics’ to Graduate Outcomes data publications.

The OSR report and letter highlight the high standards employed by Jisc in the production of Graduate Outcomes statistics under the HESA brand. The report commends Jisc’s engagement with data users, robust quality assurance (QA) processes and the timeliness of the data. Jisc’s commitment to the principles of trustworthiness, quality and value is praised as “exemplary”.

The OSR judged that response rates are “a strength of the Graduate Outcomes survey, especially when considered in comparison to other large social surveys, and that users should have a high level of confidence in the aggregated estimates.”

The OSR provide independent regulation of all official statistics produced in the UK. To meet the high standard required to carry the new Accredited Official Statistics kitemark, the data and the organisation producing them must demonstrate a commitment to principles of trustworthiness, quality and value.

Jonathan Waller, Director of Data and Innovation at Jisc, said:

“Users of this data can feel confident that it represents one of the best sources of information about study outcomes and the graduate labour market in the UK and compares very favourably with equivalent surveys conducted anywhere in the world.

“The OSR assessment also provides a strong endorsement of the significant effort which is invested annually by Jisc and colleagues in higher education providers across the UK in operating the Graduate Outcomes survey.”

First published in 2020, the Graduate Outcomes data publications will carry the Accredited Official Statistics kitemark – the National Statistics badge - from 2024. This year’s data will show the activities of graduates from the 2021/22 academic year.

The exact date for this year’s data release will be announced at least four weeks in advance on the HESA Upcoming data releases page.

View the Assessment of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics

To receive email alerts when HESA publishes new data and official statistics about UK higher education sign up for Open data alerts.

Notes

• The Graduate Outcomes survey launched in December 2018 with the first release of data in 2020 (showing the activities of graduates from the 2017/18 academic year) labelled as experimental statistics. This label was removed for the third release of data (Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data and statistics) following a period of evaluation and assessment. View all Graduate Outcomes data releases.
• For more information on what it means to be an accredited official statistic, read the OSR’s blog dated 22 March 2024.
• The Graduate Outcomes visual identity was updated in December 2023 following a brand audit including audience research. See the refreshed Graduate Outcomes website.
• See Upcoming data releases for a schedule of HESA Official Statistics releases.
• HESA is part of Jisc. Jisc is the data controller of personal data previously controlled by HESA. Privacy information on the HESA website has been updated.
• Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived from the data by third parties.