Dear Jonathan
Assessment of the Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Data and Statistics
We have completed our assessment of the Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Data and Statistics produced by Jisc, under the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) brand. I am grateful for the positive engagement from your team throughout the assessment process.
Since their introduction in June 2020 for the 2017/18 academic year, these statistics have continued to be an invaluable source of information on the outcomes and destinations of graduates from Higher Education (HE) in the UK. These statistics are a vital source of information on graduate outcomes in the UK and are used by a wide range of stakeholders including higher education providers and regulatory bodies across the UK.
Jisc has shown a commitment to trustworthiness through its understanding of its responsibilities in important areas such as data security, professional capability, and intelligent transparency. By fully maximising the positive relationships with its key stakeholders, Jisc has ensured that the needs of users are embedded in the production and continued development of these statistics.
The quality of these statistics is very high. The survey is well designed to meet users’ needs and achieves good response rates at a national level. We commend the transparency around the quality of these statistics and that a large amount of information is provided in the accompanying user guide.
Jisc’s engagement with its statutory customers and other key users through the provider forum, steering group and other means, demonstrates a commitment to strong user engagement practices. We welcome Jisc’s plans for process modernisation including the implementation of Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAP) as well as the Graduate Outcomes Data being made available for future research, including data linkage, on the Office for National Statistics’ Secure Research Service.
Our assessment found that these statistics adhere to the Code of Practice closely. Through the range of actions that Jisc has taken to develop these statistics, and in its response to our assessment, Jisc has shown a high level of dedication to the principles of trustworthiness, quality and value.
We judge that the Graduate Outcomes Data and Statistics can be confirmed as accredited official statistics (called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007). We would like to acknowledge that it is rare for OSR to accredit official statistics without first providing producers with requirements and that this reflects our high regard of these statistics as well as Jisc’s approach to continually maintaining the high standards of the Code of Practice for Statistics.
Yours sincerely
Ed Humpherson
Related Links:
Jonathan Waller to Ed Humpherson: Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Statistics Assessment Request – October 2023
Ed Humpherson to Jonathan Waller: Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Statistics Assessment Request – October 2023