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

Widget

Programme specification for current cohort (drawn from staffcentral)

Information fields in KIS

INFORMATION ITEMS

6 information tabs on Unistats page1. Overview2. Employment and accreditation3. Student satisfaction4. Cost and accommodation5. Study information6. Entry information

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

• University/ HE Institution– Institution level information– Course level information

• External– NSS– DLHE– UCAS– HESA

INFORMATION FIELDSInformation Source Level For KIS 2014, relates toEMPLOYMENT AND ACCREDITATION INFORMATIONGraduate destinations DLHE Course level DLHE 2011-12 and longitudinal

resultsPSRBs UoB Course level Planned for 2013-14STUDENT SATISFACTIONStudent satisfaction NSS Course level NSS 2013COSTS AND ACCOMMODATIONAccommodation UoB Institutional level 2012-13Financial support UoB Course level Planned for 2013-14Fees (UK domiciled) UoB Course level Planned for 2013-14STUDY INFORMATIONLTA (learning/ teaching activities and assessment methods)

UoB Course level Typical module pathway 2012-13

Class of degree/ continuation HESA Course levelENTRY INFORMATIONEntry qualifications/ UCAS tariff scores HESA Course level

INFORMATION SOURCE AND YEARKIS LTA NSS DHLE

NEW COURSE INTRODUCED IN SEP 2013

KIS 2013 entry Course stage estimates Sector/ subject aggregate

Sector/ subject aggregate

KIS 2014 entry Course stage estimates Sector/ subject aggregate

Sector/ subject aggregate

KIS 2015 entry Typical pathway course stage 1Estimates for course stages 2 and 3

Sector/ subject aggregate

Sector/ subject aggregate

KIS 2016 entry Typical pathway course stages 1 and 2Estimates for course stages 3

Actual Sector/ subject aggregate

KIS 2017 entry Typical pathway course stages 1, 2 and 3

Actual Actual

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 scorePublication 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:

1. scheduled timetabled activities (e.g. lectures, field trips)2. independent but guided study (e.g. reading, exam preparation)3. placement learning

• Assessment categories:1. written (written exams)2. coursework (written assignments e.g. essay, dissertation, portfolio,

report, project etc.)3. practical (presentations and practical skills assessments)

COURSE LEVEL INFO: LTA (2)

KIS category

Assessment method

Written Written exam

Coursework Written assignment/ essay

Coursework Report

Coursework Dissertation

Coursework Portfolio

Coursework Project output

Practical Oral assessment/ presentation

Practical Practical skills assessment

KIS category Activity type

Scheduled Lecture

Scheduled Seminar

Scheduled Tutorial

Scheduled Project supervision

Scheduled Demonstration

Scheduled Practical class/ workshop

Scheduled Supervised time in studio/ workshop

Scheduled Fieldwork

Scheduled External visits

Independent Guided independent study

Placement Work-based learning

Placement Placement

Placement Year abroad

Assessment methods Learning/ teaching activities

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)

XX101

XX102

XX105

XX103

XX104

XX106

YY110

20 credits

20 credits

10 credits

10 credits

40 credits

20 credits

20 credits

12 students

12 students

7 students

9 students

12 students

5 students

8 students

√

√

√

√

√

√

xNote inclusion of

optional module from different school

120 credits at course stage 1

(year 1)

e.g. of calculation of typical pathway from module records for year 1

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 KISKIS 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

Assessment methods (%)

2012 module record used in typical pathway for KIS 2014 entry (i.e. August

2013 submission)

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 CHECKLISTPROBLEM 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.