Consultation on ceasing publication of Students Eligible for Funding
Introduction
- This document seeks views on the proposal to cease publication of the Students Eligible for Funding statistical publication.
- We welcome comments from our stakeholders and anyone with an interest in the issues raised in this document. Our consultation period will run from 5 August 2024 to 2 September 2024.
Recommendation
- The following table summarises our proposal:
| Recommendation/Proposed changes |
|---|
| 1) We propose to cease publication of the Students Eligible for Funding statistical publication with immediate effect, cancelling the publication of the 2023-24 statistics. |
| 2) The statistics will be shared with the sector and Scottish Government as management information. |
| 3) The statistics will be available on request to other interested parties. |
Students Eligible for Funding data
- The figures in the publication are taken from SFC’s Early Statistics Return. The Early Statistics are aggregate numbers of students eligible for funding, expressed as full‐time equivalents (FTEs).
- As the figures are collected in-year they include a forecast element.
The drivers for change
- In late 2023, SFC commissioned a review of its statistical publications. During the review, interviews were conducted with user groups from colleges, universities, Scottish Government and other organisations. Users were asked to provide their feedback on the current suite of publications produced by SFC.
- Within the feedback received, several users highlighted concerns about the forecast element of the publication and the potential for third parties to over-interpret the data.
- None of the feedback received during the review indicated a strong requirement for the statistics to be published.
- While the value of the published statistics was questioned, some users proposed that provision of summary data to the university sector and Scottish Government analytical team would fulfil the needs of interested parties, as management information (not as official statistics) available upon request.
SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27
Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.