2. www.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
• Brief introduction
• How was SFP developed?
• Who is SFP for?
• What should SFP be used for?
• Key benefits
• What are flow patterns?
• How does it work?
• Cost
• How do I buy SFP?
3. In a nutshell
One of the biggest problems faced by educational
institutions today is how to effectively manage the flow of
students through a study course and how to do so at a
much lower cost per graduate. Without proper analysis
and appropriate strategies, the cost of education will
keep on rising, placing the world even further away from
the quality education it needs.
StudentFlowPatterns is a software programme giving
users the opportunity to understand the fundamentals
governing the flow of students through a study course,
without dealing with the micro-dynamics of the flow
process. It provides opportunities for decision makers to
analyse flow patterns in a scientific way and to formulate
and compare strategies for improving the throughput
and cost efficiency of study courses.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
4. “To provide educators with the tools to
analyze and manage the flow of
students through a course in a most
efficient and effective way. ”
Our mission
5. Development of the software
programme
This software development is a practical application of a
theoretical study undertaken during 2014 and published
in 2015 in the South African Journal of Science. More
information can be found in the papers referred to below.
The approach and software for analysing student output
patterns is found in Excel files which can be downloaded
from StudentFlowPatterns.com.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
1. Stoop LCA. Relationships between student throughput variables
and properties. S Afr J Sci. 2015;111(7/8), Art. #2014-0336, 5 pages.
http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2015/20140336
2. Stoop LCA. Submitted for publication.
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
6. Who should use this software?
o All study course administrators at post-school
institutions like universities, colleges and other
institutions of learning, responsible for the planning,
managing and funding of such study courses.
o All executive managers of post-school institutions
requiring the ability to assess the throughput
efficiency of study courses and subsequently to
introduce remedial interventions on improving these
efficiencies. This forms part of enrolment planning
and enrolment management at these institutions.
o All policy makers and funders for post-school
education at government level requiring insight into
what really drives the throughput efficiency of study
courses and therefore the output performance of
students.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
7. For what purpose should the software be used?
o Firstly, to train students pursuing courses in higher education
management about the fundamentals governing the flow of
learners through a study course. Throughput efficiency and cost
considerations are very important facets shaping the skills of these
future managers.
o Secondly, to provide lecturers at post-school educational
institutions with a virtual laboratory to assess the current
throughput efficiency of their study courses and the unit costs for
graduates, and to introduce remedial action where required.
o Thirdly, to empower educational institution managers to properly
analyse and manage the size of their student enrolments by using
information about throughput efficiencies and costs to produce a
graduate.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
8. www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Key benefits of using this software
o This is the first software programme providing a
scientific and comprehensive approach for the
analysis of flow patterns of students through a
course.
o The software programme does not operate at the
level of the micro-dynamics of flow patterns, but
follows a macro approach which is easy to
understand without requiring extensive
mathematical background.
o The software programme is able to run on its own
without being connected to the large databases used
by post-school institutions for cohort studies and
similar types of analysis.
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
9. The seven essential quantities for flow patterns
According to the theoretical study published in 2015, there are seven quantities
required to give a complete description of the flow of students through a study
course. The two most important of these quantities are :
o The unduplicated headcount H/N of students enrolled for the course; and
o The successful module credits S/N accumulated by students to a maximum of 1
credit per student per year.
The other five quantities serve to define the values of H/N and S/N. All seven of
these essential quantities can only exist inside a so-called flow triangle in the H-S
plane. This flow triangle is key to the understanding of the flow of students
through a course.
The software for the analysis of flow patterns firstly requires detail to be entered
for some of the essential quantities. The flow triangle diagram then provides the
basis for further analysis.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
10. Use of the software:
entering flow details
After opening the Excel file, select the
Tab “Patterns” and go to the set of
yellow boxes to the immediate left of
the flow triangle diagram. Enter the
required details as is shown for the 4-
year course.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
11. Use of the software: observing a flow pattern
After entering the student throughput details in the yellow boxes, the flow
diagram automatically adjusts to show the details for the flow configuration
Y as per the diagram below.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
12. Use of the software:
analysing a flow pattern
Finally, the flow pattern Y needs to
be analysed in terms of the
information below as provided to
the immediate right of the
triangular flow diagram. Strategies
can now be designed to gradually
move configuration Y towards X
which represents the perfect
throughput configuration for full-
time studies. For part-time studies
the targets are slightly different.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
13. www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Format Product So-ware Version Cost
Excel file StudentFlowPatterns 5yr Courses V17.2 $10
Excel file StudentFlowPatterns 4yr Courses V17.2 $10
Excel file StudentFlowPatterns 3yr Courses V17.2 $10
Excel file StudentFlowPatterns 2yr Courses V17.2 $10
PDF Report Drafting of a three page Report analysing a
particular course on the basis of the seven
essential quantities to be provided via email,
including recommendations on strategies for
improving throughput and cost efficiencies.
PDF report $50
Premium
Consultation
Any other consult work at a deposit of 50% of
the tariff to be negotiated via email. Please
see profile of Dr Lucas CA Stoop on LinkedIn
for further information.
Deposit of 50%
of the tariff to be
negotiated via
email.
Products and services on offer
The following products and services are on offer:
Email address: Info@StudentFlowPatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SFP developed?
Who is SFP for?
What should SFP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SFP?
14. Downloading products
and services
1. Visit www.StudentFlowPatterns.com
2. Click on download software
3. You will be redirected to a PayPal payment page
4. Click on Download software
Users downloading the Excel software will be required
to agree to the following condition:
The information in this Excel file which had been
downloaded from the site www.StudentFlowPatterns.com is
the intellectual property of the Author. By downloading the
Excel file you agree to protect the IP by acknowledging the
source of information and not to distribute copies of the
Excel file without the written permission of the Author.
www.studentflowpatterns.comwww.studentflowpatterns.com
Table of contents
Brief introduction
How was SWP developed?
Who is SWP for?
What should SWP be used for?
Key benefits
What are flow patterns?
How does it work?
Cost
How do I buy SWP?
16. Copyright 2017, Student Flow Patterns / Lucas Stoop
The information in the Excel file which had been downloaded from the site www.studentflowpatterns.com is the intellectual property of the Author. When you downloaded the Excel
file you have already agreed to protect the IP by acknowledging the source of information and not to distribute copies of this File without the written permission of the Author.