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University staff common room

This board is for university-based professionals. Find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further education forum.

Anyone here involved in HESA?

8 replies

Phunkychicken · 06/10/2023 16:34

I suspect you’re nearly all on the academic side but anyone involved in the car crash which is HESA Data Futures this year ?

OP posts:
BugsyDrakeTableScape · 13/10/2023 21:15

I used to have responsibility for HDF up to Feb this year before I jumped ship. Watching it crash and burn from afar across the board....

UCUNoMore · 13/10/2023 21:16

What’s happening

BugsyDrakeTableScape · 13/10/2023 21:21

From what I understand:
New data platform doesn't work
Query management doesn't work
New schema makes no sense
Software suppliers are still nowhere near ready and updates to records systems are failing
Burden not being reduced in any sense

Phunkychicken · 14/10/2023 07:44

The latest wheeze is the headline figure of deadline being pushed back to 22/11, but reality is file has to be committed by 3/11, so barely an extension at all. I work for a moderate sized RG, we have over 160 quality issues triggering that we need to clear down before we can start looking at things like continuity etc.

And the absolute worst but is there clearly going to have to make significant changes next year when they realise that despite all the upheaval they don't have the data they were hoping for (either cos guidance was so poor that individual institutions have all interpreted it differently, out just what they are asking for does not reflect how we hold and use data internally so we've had to fudge it.

And, current projection on HDP is that our funding will be over £20 million down on last year and we can't work out if it's a HESA error or issue with our data.

And poor Planning and other Depts who use HESA data for all sorts, no way can just plug the woeful output into our reporting and then compare this year with previous years, does not compute at all.

I think there's a significant amount of people either sick or leaving with stress or going self employed to work as contractors. And obviously other than funding shortfall no one outside of stat returns gives two hoots.

There, at least felt better getting it out!

Hope anyone else involved is faring better

OP posts:
BugsyDrakeTableScape · 14/10/2023 07:54

I had been doing HESA for over a decade before I left. Even from the initial consultation the one thing that everyone said time and again was the impact on the well being of staff was going to be huge - and it's disappointing to see that this has indeed come true.

Cynically, you can only think that the date changes are to benefit HESA rather than providers... Which says it all really.

Solidarity to you - I hope it improves

FarEast · 14/10/2023 14:43

BugsyDrakeTableScape · 13/10/2023 21:21

From what I understand:
New data platform doesn't work
Query management doesn't work
New schema makes no sense
Software suppliers are still nowhere near ready and updates to records systems are failing
Burden not being reduced in any sense

Sounds like the upgrade to teaching and assessment software at my place, which only started in July, and isn't finished yet. Except I will have a stack of marking in 2 weeks' time and no information yet for students on submission, or for me on access and marking ....

It just feels like anything in HE is a car crash at the moment.

titchy · 14/10/2023 15:08

Yep. Shitshow. Angry Are you on the HESPA discussion boards? They're very cathartic - if nothing else to reassure that you're not alone. And you're nowhere near in the worst position btw....

Igmum · 14/10/2023 15:21

I'm on the academic side and know nothing of this, but this doesn't surprise me. Everything to do with computers and universities is always a shit show. Possibly because of the high heejuns ingrained beliefs that these can be operated with no budget and not enough people.

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