Data intelligence

In 2021/22, Teesside University saw an increase in Free events attendees for exhibitions (galleries, museums etc.) from 45 in 2020/21 to 48,228 in 2021/22 due to the lifting of COVID19 restrictions.

In 2019/20, The University of Central Lancashire reported an increase in table 5 of those attending ‘Other’ free events from 228,003,000 in 2018/19 to 483,022,347 in 2019/20.This was due to a number of popular interviews including one on Earthworms and how they helped Charles Darwin's research.

In 2022/23, the University of Nottingham saw a notable increase in those attending free events categorised as 'other' (10,204,255 attendees), compared with the previous year (29,009 attendees). This is as a result of an increased effort to collect data on high-profile media events such as staff members TV / Radio appearances.

In the same year, The University of Portsmouth saw a notable increase in those attending free events categorised as ‘other’ (33,709,997 attendees), compared with the previous year (134,643 attendees). This is as a result of high-profile media events such as staff members with a significant presence on BBC radio 3 and BBC radio 4.

In 2021/22, Birmingham City University, reported a significant increase in Table 5 of those attending ‘Other’ free events from 155 in 2020/21 to 711,395 in 2021/22. This was due to the provider making improvements to their process for capturing data, which meant that media-based engagements were included such as television/radio interviews including BBC2 TV Programme; Art that Made US, BBC Radio 3 Documentary; Forbidden Fruit and a BBC Radio 3 Podcast; New Thinking.

The Open University has noted the decrease in FTE for academic staff on standard contracts in cost centre 54 from the 2010/11 results due to a correction to source data, where some staff from the Faculty of Business and Law had been incorrectly assigned to cost centre 54 in previous years.

The Open University has noted that the decrease in total FTE for academic staff on standard contracts from 2010/11 is due, in large part, to a change in the method used to calculate the FTE for Associate Lecturers, which is more finely grained and gives a more accurate representation of FTE for this group of staff.

In 2015/16, Kingston University under-reported the FTE values for academic teaching only staff by approximately 80.

The University of Glamorgan has identified an error in the FTE for some of their further education students. These students are all studying at the Merthyr Tydfil FE college which is part of the University of Glamorgan group. There are 781 full time students and 2,778 part time students, with a corresponding FTE submitted to HESA of 3,890.84 for FT and 604.99 for PT.

On reflection it is clear that the full time FTE is incorrect, and this has been re-calculated. The actual FTE for full time at Merthyr Tydfil should be 782.66, this is a difference of 3108.18 (3890.84 – 782.66). All of these students were studying in cost centre 41 and therefore the cost centre 41 FTE needs to be reduced by 3108.18 to reflect the accurate position.

In 2008/09, the London School of Economics and Political Science over-reported around 300 postgraduate research students as having an FTE of 1.0. These should have been reported with an FTE between 0.1 and 0.2.

The University of Glasgow mis-reported the FTE of some postgraduate research students for 2011/12. 720 students (646.6 FTEs) were incorrectly reported with an FTE of 1.0 where they should have been returned as 0.1.

The University of St Andrews mis-reported 240.0 FTEs relating to postgraduate research writing-up students. These students were each returned with an FTE of 1.0 instead of 0.1. The correct figure for FTE of postgraduate students at St Andrews is 1932.4 instead of 2147.5.

In 2015/16, The University of South Wales conducted a data validation exercise following the introduction of a new HR/Payroll system. This resulted in changes in the method of calculating FTE/FPE, to better align with HESA reporting requirements.

St George's Hospital Medical School implemented a new full-time foundation degree in Healthcare practice in January 2012 which explains the proportional increase in other undergraduate instances for this provider between 2010/11 and 2011/12.

here has also been a considerable increase in part-time, other undergraduate instances returned. This is due to a large increase of CPD (continuing professional development) students registering for low credit-bearing module study.

The University of Brighton has a significant reduction in first year full-time foundation degree students (505). This is largely due to a number of the programmes delivered by their partner colleges now being directly funded.

In 2021/22, The University of Glasgow reported an increase in the number of full-time postgraduate qualifications compared with the previous year. There were 12,195 such qualifications reported in 2021/22 compared with 5,685 in 2020/21. This was due to the fact that the completion of around 4,000 awards from the 2020/21 academic year were delayed until the following year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University of Sunderland has had a significant increase in full-time postgraduate taught (560) and full-time first degree (620) students. This relates to a new campus (in London) being introduced in 2011/12. In 2011/12 there was only an April intake, in 2012/13 there was an August, October, January and April intake.

Sheffield Hallam University excluded in error 70 students from their qualifiers population in 2012/13. This affects their full-time first degree in Social Work data. It will also affect overall provider statistics but it will have a marked impact on any leaver or qualification statistics covering the Social Work subject of study.

In 2013/14, The University of Edinburgh had a significant decrease (18%) in the number of full-time first degree qualifiers.  The university planned for and recruited a much smaller cohort of home and EU students in 2010/11 leading to the smaller number of graduates in 2013/14.  This decision impacted on the recruitment in one academic year, but was made to enable a more consistent number of places to be available to new applicants in the years since.

In 2013/14, SRUC had a significant increase to their full-time other undergraduate first year students, from 120 in 2012/13 to 655 in 2013/14.  This was due to the merger of the former Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge Colleges and SAC to form SRUC.

In 2013/14, The University of Brighton had a significant decrease in the qualifications awarded for full-time foundation degree qualifiers (405 qualifiers representing a 75% decrease from 2012/13). This is due to the transfer of previously franchised provision to their partner providers.  Although they still validate the awards, the students now belong to their partner provider.

From 2010/11 to 2016/17 the University of Plymouth has had a significant reduction (a drop of 94%, approx. 8400 students) in their franchised student numbers following a change in guidance from HEFCE regarding the reporting of partnership arrangements.