EVIDENCE-BASED WIDENING ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION POLICY AT THE CORE OF HIGHER EDUCATION STRATEGY, LEADERSHIP AND DECISION MAKING

UK universities gather robust data on the Widening Access and Participation (WAP) profile of their students. This data is reported in statutory returns to Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), in Access Agreements and for the Teaching Excellence Framework returns. Learner analytics can be a powerful driver of embedded WAP in institutional strategies and for distributed key performance indicators (KPIs).

This paper illustrates the development of comprehensive WAP Analytics that drives policy and practice in the mission-defining ‘civic contribution’ strand of the strategic plan of Ulster University. It should appeal to all with an interest in WAP research and policy, and to those interested in using data effectively to target resources and interventions.

It will showcase how Ulster University adopts an effective collaborative approach to meet WAP objectives that helps inform and influence decision-makers and WAP policy.

This approach involves partnerships between colleagues from the Directorate which has statutory responsibility for WAP reporting, working with colleagues from Planning, Faculty, working groups and sub-committees/committees, such as, the Widening Access and Community Engagement Sub-Committee (WACESC) in order to source, interpret and report on a range of key data streams. Such colleagues work collaboratively and in partnership to ensure that necessary datasets are available to allow the University to appropriately monitor the diversity of the student profile for statutory reporting; for WAP planning; to meet key informational demands; to identify novel informational resources necessary to underpin institutional WAP strategy and support research.

The data results and narrative outputs are used to support many purposes including: to better understand and monitor the WAP landscape; to define WAP criteria which encourages inclusivity; to target and plan WAP outreach and interventions, to identify marketing segments; to identify students at risk of non-progression and to make effective use of learner analytics during the entire student lifecycle from pre application, through time at University and beyond to employment or further study.

The presenters will provide opportunities for the research potential of learning gain to be explored and will also disseminate information about some of the key datasets used and how results are being shared to inform practice, evaluate impact and as a strategic driver for civic contribution.

Future plans and the benefits of developing further impact strategies and designing meaningful dashboards to share data will be discussed. Presenters will also provide insights into the different perspectives of key stakeholders who require data and need to understand it, and will discuss the complexity of distribution and co-ownership. They will share details of some of the interventions informed by data that have been delivered that have been successful, such as, how data is being used by Faculty and departments including some initial findings of projects funded though the new 2017 Civic Contribution Through Educational Outreach Scheme at Ulster University.