With the adoption of sweeping changes to the DLHE survey methodology, as well as the introduction of Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO), the age of big data and advanced analytics has finally hit UK education at the government level. As is typically the case, such drastic changes are already causing a tidal wave of consternation, fret and concern in universities throughout the UK.
Fortunately, just as technology is powering the changes that will create the financial strain in the first place, it is also offering efficient, effective solutions to minimize impact on overall productivity. CSM by Symplicity can transform big data and advanced analytics into manageable, succinct and user-friendly functions that can integrate into existing systems. So, even with drastic changes on the horizon, Symplicity can help career centres do more with less.
Changes to DLHE
Unlike previous changes from HESA, the new DLHE completely transforms the survey to better reflect the dynamics of a rapidly evolving marketplace for new graduates. While the old procedures only collected data for a single day six months after graduation, the new survey takes a week's sample 15 months after studies have been completed.
However, with a heavier influence being placed on salary income, the commodification of degrees and, by proxy, universities themselves, will significantly increase. The pending wealth of information pertaining to specific schools, programs, degrees and jobs will undoubtedly make applicants take a more quantitative approach to choice of university.
LEO, The New Kid in Town
The introduction of LEO only places further pressures on schools and career centres. Intended to be a companion to DLHE, LEO will integrate even more specific data concerning career placement, salary information and general success, only over a much longer time period than its DLHE counterpart. With the integrated data between the two surveys scheduled to be released as a cohesive, all-encompassing report starting in 2020, the same financial pressures placed upon universities by DLHE will only be magnified once LEO is a permanent, annual fixture.
For career centres on university campuses, funding will likely be further channeled elsewhere in the school, meaning centre employees will be forced to find optimal levels of efficiency.
Solutions for the Brave New World
As sobering a thought as it might be, career centres will need to become extraordinarily streamlined to maximize productivity with dwindling resources once universities start spending the funds elsewhere. The DLHE and LEO surveys will force schools to spend on cutting-edge facilities to draw the attention of potential students. Such fixed costs will likely result in drastically cut variable costs, unfortunately putting career centres and similar services directly in the cost-cutting crosshairs.
Thankfully, Symplicity designs platforms to specifically help career centres maximize productivity through integrative technology. In other words, in an industry with much needed funds growing slimmer by the day, CSM by Symplicity can help departments do less with more and maintain that optimal productivity, even in the face of disappearing resources.
