May 2013 KEY INFORMATION SETS THE BASICS

Overview

OVERVIEW Key Information Sets Information fields External data Institutional data: University level Institutional data: course level Links and error checklist Further information: KIS webpage on QA/E website on staffcentral

Key Information Sets

WHAT THEY ARE Comparable sets of information Identified as useful by prospective students All UG courses have a course level KIS Exceptions: Short courses (one year FTE equivalent or less) PG courses Closed courses Courses delivered wholly overseas Information drawn from external and institutional sources

KIS DISPLAY Published externally on Unistats Allows comparisons Can search by information fields Displays on course finder pages as a widget Rolling fields of information Links to full list of information on Unistats Course can be viewed in context Course finder pages also display the course programme specification

Programme specification for current cohort (drawn from staffcentral) Widget

Information fields in KIS

INFORMATION ITEMS 6 information tabs on Unistats page Overview Employment and accreditation Student satisfaction Cost and accommodation Study information Entry information

SOURCES OF INFORMATION University/ HE Institution Institution level information Course level information External NSS DLHE UCAS HESA

INFORMATION FIELDS Information Source Level For KIS 2014, relates to EMPLOYMENT AND ACCREDITATION INFORMATION Graduate destinations DLHE Course level DLHE 2011-12 and longitudinal results PSRBs UoB Planned for 2013-14 STUDENT SATISFACTION Student satisfaction NSS NSS 2013 COSTS AND ACCOMMODATION Accommodation Institutional level 2012-13 Financial support Fees (UK domiciled) STUDY INFORMATION LTA (learning/ teaching activities and assessment methods) Typical module pathway 2012-13 Class of degree/ continuation HESA ENTRY INFORMATION Entry qualifications/ UCAS tariff scores

INFORMATION SOURCE AND YEAR KIS LTA NSS DHLE NEW COURSE INTRODUCED IN SEP 2013 KIS 2013 entry Course stage estimates Sector/ subject aggregate KIS 2014 entry KIS 2015 entry Typical pathway course stage 1 Estimates for course stages 2 and 3 KIS 2016 entry Typical pathway course stages 1 and 2 Estimates for course stages 3 Actual KIS 2017 entry Typical pathway course stages 1, 2 and 3

External data

EXTERNAL DATA FIELDS DLHE – employment information NSS – student satisfaction HESA – study information Class of degree (qualification obtained) Continuation (retention) HESA – entry information Entry qualifications UCAS tariff score Publication thresholds

EXTERNAL DATA: PUBLICATION THRESHOLDS NSS and DLHE data at course level are only published when they reach certain thresholds NSS: 50% of population and at least 23 students Where numbers are too small, Unistats will show data for More than one year of the course Subject level data drawn from several courses Similar courses across the UK (DLHE)

Institutional data

INSTITUTION LEVEL INFORMATION Fees Financial support Accommodation costs

COURSE LEVEL INFORMATION Accreditation Study information learning/ teaching and assessment information (LTA) LT: how the course is taught measured as time spent in learning/ teaching activities A: assessment methods measured as a percentage of total assessment

COURSE LEVEL INFO: ACCREDITATION Includes professional, statutory and regulatory bodies’ (PSRBs) recognition and endorsement of courses Drawn from a HESA list of recognised accrediting bodies Can request that PSRBs be added to list Link to PSRB website which outlines terms of accreditation

COURSE LEVEL INFO: LTA Presented by year of study (course stage) Reflects aggregate LTA of module choices of students enrolled in a previous year (typical pathway) Prescribed LTA categories Learning/ teaching categories: scheduled timetabled activities (e.g. lectures, field trips) independent but guided study (e.g. reading, exam preparation) placement learning Assessment categories: written (written exams) coursework (written assignments e.g. essay, dissertation, portfolio, report, project etc.) practical (presentations and practical skills assessments)

COURSE LEVEL INFO: LTA (2) Assessment methods Learning/ teaching activities KIS category Assessment method Written Written exam Coursework Written assignment/ essay Report Dissertation Portfolio Project output Practical Oral assessment/ presentation Practical skills assessment KIS category Activity type Scheduled Lecture Seminar Tutorial Project supervision Demonstration Practical class/ workshop Supervised time in studio/ workshop Fieldwork External visits Independent Guided independent study Placement Work-based learning Year abroad Subject to amendment and revision by HESA. Correct as of 2013 for KIS 2014 entry.

Learning/ teaching Assessment

COURSE LEVEL INFO: LTA (3) Based on the typical student pathway Typical pathway = most popular module diet (based on enrolled students’ module selections in a previous year) Calculated using an algorithm which aggregates module LTA data at each course stage/ year of study is credit-weighted May include modules taken on other courses/ in other schools Drawn from CAMS module records Typical pathway for new/ periodically reviewed courses is estimated at course stage level

COURSE LEVEL INFO: LTA (4) e.g. of calculation of typical pathway from module records for year 1 120 credits at course stage 1 (year 1) 20 credits 12 students √ XX101 20 credits 12 students √ XX102 10 credits 7 students √ XX103 10 credits 9 students XX104 √ 40 credits 12 students √ XX105 Note inclusion of optional module from different school 20 credits 5 students x XX106 20 credits 8 students √ YY110

COURSE LEVEL INFO: LTA (5) Reflects students’ module choices from a previous year Selection of module year is automatic Module maintenance in CAMS without reference to effects on KIS KIS 2014 entry KIS 2015 entry KIS 2016 entry KIS 2017 entry Submission August 2013 August 2014 August 2015 August 2016 KIS cycle 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Typical pathway module data 2012 2013 2014 2015

Learning/ teaching activities in hours 2012 module record used in typical pathway for KIS 2014 entry (i.e. August 2013 submission) Learning/ teaching activities in hours Assessment methods (%)

Links and error checklist

USEFUL WEBSITES Comparisons of HE course data (Unistats) http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/ University guidelines (staffcentral) http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/quality/KIS/KIS.shtm Guidance on KIS policy and process (HEFCE) http://www.hefce.ac.uk/whatwedo/lt/publicinfo/kis/ Guidance on compiling KIS data sets (HESA) http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_studrec&Itemid=232&mnl=13061

ERROR CHECKLIST PROBLEM SOLUTION The NSS/ DLHE data looks wrong. Consult guidance on KIS webpage on staffcentral for info on external data publication. The typical pathway is not what I expected. Review module learning/ teaching and assessment data. Review modules included in typical pathway. The LTA does not reflect what students will experience on the course this year. LTA reflects the learning/ teaching and assessment experiences of past students. If the course has been periodically reviewed, submit ASC02 to Registry (KISenquiries@brighton.ac.uk). The LTA does not reflect the course structure. LTA reflects past students’ module choices rather than the formal structure of the course. My course has no exams. Why doesn’t it show 100% coursework? There are two categories for non-exam assessment (written coursework and practical assessments). What about zero credit assessment tasks? A statement below the Assessment graph informs students there are additional assessments they must pass. Submit KIS course information amendments form to Registry (KISenquiries@brighton.ac.uk) if your course includes non credit-bearing assessments.