Blackburn college offer advice and tips on how they complete our Higher Education in Further Education: Students Survey (HEIFES).

1. The HEIFES Process

2. Background
• 15,000 students – FE, HE, Apprentices, Commercial
• EBS
• HE Provision
– 2,300 full-time 500 part-time
– 40 degrees, 30 foundation degrees, 20 HNC/HND, PGCE
– Overseas learners
– Price Groups – B,C and D
– Length – All Standard
– Level – UG & PG
– No Sandwich year Out (Table 2)
– No whole years abroad (Table 4)

3. Who is involved?
MIS Manager
Ensuring data accuracy, uploading HEIFES returns, managing data
verification process.
Heads of School & Dean
Ensuring data accuracy, provide non-completion forecasts, additional
starts information.
Data Analyst
Ensuring data accuracy, converting data
into the HEIFES tables.

4. Stage 1 – June Course review
• Mode of Attendance
• Learning Aim
• Price Group
• Missing Programmes

5. Stage 2 – Accurate Enrolment Data
• Learner Agreements
– Personal Details
– Modules
– FTE
– Learning Aim
• Data exception Reports
– International learners
– Multiple enrolments
– Start/end dates

6. Stage 3 – Understanding the guidance
• Attend this event!
• Review the documentation
• Make necessary revisions prior to the next stage

7. Stage 4 – HEIFES course checklist
• Course List
– Mode of Attendance
– Learning Aim
– Price Group
– Total expected enrolments
– Missing programmes
– Projected Non-completers

8. Stage 4 – HEIFES Learner Checklist
• Learner List
– Overseas
– FTE
– Non-standard year
– Pre 2nd Nov withdrawal
– Student Number Control (FTUG & PGCE)
– ABB equivalent
– New/Old Regime
– ELQ

9. Stage 5 – Complete HEIFES Tables & Sign Off
• Implement changes from Stage 4
• Populate HEIFES tables
• Validation & credibility errors
• Heads of school sign off - 10 Nov
• Principal /Chief Exec sign off – 12 Nov
• HEIFES return date – 13 Nov

10. Stage 6 – HEIFES Data Verification
• Managed by MIS manager
• All relevant people involved in the process
• Knowing exactly which learners make up all the numbers in the
HEIFES tables is a big help

11. Good Practice Checklist
• Start early
• ACCURATE DATA
• Clear timeline of events
• Read the guidance
• Make good notes
• Work together

12. The HEIFES Process