Contextual data in admissions
HEIs have for many years been using data in addition to the stated qualifications and criteria for entry when considering applications for courses at universities and colleges. It was given greater impetus with the publication of the Schwartz report Fair admissions to higher education: recommendations for good practice, in September 2004, and more recently with the policies and initiatives of government round the UK. Contextual data can be used to support access, inclusion and progression, from fair access to the professions, fair admissions decision making to information underpinning widening participation and outreach identified in Access Agreements for OFFA.
SPA is working throughout the UK with HEIs, government departments, agencies and UCAS to take this forward, keeping school and college organisations in the loop.
- Definition - what is contextual data?
- Initial set of data items to be provided via UCAS
- Principles of the use of contextual data in admissions
- How is contextual data used?
- Report on the SPA use of Contextual Data in admissions survey
- SPA update on contextual data
- Examples of current contextual data use in admissions at HEIs
- Research, reports and articles on the use of contextual data
- Scotland