Data

UniViz attempts to use the widest range of data to provide the most insightful outputs.

For programme development and portfolio strategy, much analysis uses HESA’s Student Record data. This allows programme level comparison across the sector, against competitors and regional peers, giving the most comprehensive market outlook available. It offers insights into the behaviour and profile of individual student groups.

However, the programme title field is free text, meaning there is no standard convention on naming, abbreviating, or even using correct spelling. There are deviations and mistakes from one institution to another, and year on year. Using a combination of automated and manual techniques, this data must be cleaned and standardised before it can be usefully used. UniViz will do this to the highest standard, and across the sector, saving you a considerable amount of time.

Once the data is cleaned, it must be used correctly in order to draw insight. Key word searches are carried out to create a set of programmes that are relevant to the focus of analysis, with “would an applicant in the market for the original title consider these?” used as a key question. The criteria for these searches can be developed in conjunction with the client to take into account their specialist knowledge.

The results of this search are cleaned again and categorised in order to aid in analysis (i.e. a broad “computer games” search might split results into “development”, “design”, “programming” etc.

It is this data that is added to a standardised programme-level analysis template, and any further in depth analysis template can be added where relevant.

Additional data

Other data used may include:

HESA Open Data – including Graduate Outcomes, Finance or Staffing information.
Discover Uni – A useful record of programme-level information with key stats for comparability.
ONS – Regional population change can provide a model for future demand.
University websites – The best source for up-to-date programme information, in the format that potential students will be using. USPs, tuition fees and module information are commonly used, with examples of best practice given,