[Unistats] National data collection on applications and offers

[Lachlan Murdoch]

Hello all

 

You may have been involved in responding to the communication from DEST
re comments on the Detailed data specifications for the new national
data collection on applications and offers.

 

Does anyone have any comments re these data specs? Three issues come
immediately to mind:

 

1.    Scope creep - the original specs mentioned nothing re CHESSN, now
we are to provide this and other personal data of applicants so that
DEEWR can supposedly link up enrolment and application data. But this
was not the original plan for the dataset.

2.    Compliance - While the Act requires higher education providers to
provide "such statistical and other information the Minister requests"
are there questions about whether that includes providing personal data
on persons who are not actually enrolled at the HEP - what are the
limits to this power? 

3.    Privacy: Have privacy issues been taken sufficiently into account?
TAC applicants must agree to provision of their personal data to DEEWR
for allocation of a CHESSN under the requirements of HEIMS, and DEEWR
believe that this also covers the applicant database, however it could
be argued that these are actually separate requirements and be
challenged on privacy grounds.  

 

Am I just being paranoid, or do other unis have issues with the reach of
this data?

 

Lachlan

Lachlan Murdoch

Manager: Analysis and Strategy

Planning and Assurance Services

University of South Australia

Ph: 08 8302 1071 

Mob: 0407 181 977

lachlan.murdoch at unisa.edu.au <mailto:lachlan.murdoch at unisa.edu.au> 

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