Annual Admissions Conference 2019

Access to data is frequently cited as one of the key challenges faced by providers trying to understand the impact of their access and participation interventions. The Office for Students (OfS) is currently implementing a series of access and participation reforms, including the development of a new evidence and impact strategy, and a new approach to access and participation plans.

This session will consider how the effective use of data can be used to underpin an evidence-informed approach to access and participation in relation to three key areas: targeting outreach, supporting providers to undertake contextualised admissions, and enhancing evaluation practice.

Through this workshop, participants will get a chance to hear from staff at the OfS and UCAS, and work with colleagues across the sector to explore options and solutions to the challenges they face.

By the end of this session participants will understand:

• How data can be used by providers to rigorously evaluate the impact of their interventions, and mobilise this knowledge to improve practice.
• What data and tools are available to providers through the UCAS application, contextual data service and STROBE.
• How peers in other providers have developed solutions and approaches to similar challenges.