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Statistics Publication Notice
Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2001-02
Annex : Statistical Notes to News Release
Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2001-02
1. Data Sources
The figures in these tables contains information on students, from both Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Further Education Colleges (FECs), who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland. The information on the numbers and characteristics of graduates and diplomates are collected separately from HEIs and FECs:
- Prior to 1 July 1999, The Scottish Office collected information from FECs in Scotland. From 1 July 1999, this information has been collected by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC).
- The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects information from all HEIs in the UK.
2. Data Quality and Coverage
Data on HE graduates and diplomates from FECs are collected by SFEFC. In each of the past two years SFEFC has changed the methodology used to identify graduates and diplomates. The result of this has been a reduction in the reported number of graduates and diplomates from FECs and an increase in the number of continuing students. Higher education graduates from further education colleges account for approximately one quarter of all higher education graduates and diplomates. These are mainly at the sub-degree level.
It is not yet possible to precisely estimate the effect of this change on data for previous years. In the meantime figures for graduates and diplomates from Further Education Colleges for years before 2000-01 should be regarded as indicative of trends in that period.
Exploratory work on estimating the effects of this discontinuity will be carried out when sufficient data becomes available. In the meantime figures for graduates and diplomates from Further Education Colleges for years before 2000-01 should be regarded as indicative of trends in that period.
Previous editions of this news release have not included information on part-time graduates and diplomates from Further Education Colleges. This omission has been rectified for all years covered in this year's edition of this publication which supersedes editions for previous years.
Certain assumptions have been made to impute for missing data. For example those students whose gender is unknown have had a gender imputed according to the gender share within their element of the graduate and diplomate population.
Nursing students were absorbed into the Higher Education sector in 1996-97, and were included in returns for the first time in that year.
3. Definitions
The term ' graduate' refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above; the term ' diplomate' refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at below first degree level.
The three levels of study used are:
- Postgraduate - students successfully completing courses where a first degree qualification is an entry requirement. This includes students gaining higher degrees, postgraduate diplomas or equivalent.
- First Degree Graduate - students successfully completing courses leading to a first degree or equivalent.
- Sub Degree Diplomate - students successfully completing courses classified as higher education but not classified as postgraduate or first degree. These qualifications include the Certificate of Higher Education and Diploma of Higher Education, and Higher National Diplomas and Certificates (HNDs/HNCs); however they exclude Higher National units below group award level.
Further Information
For further information on these figures and other information on statistics covering lifelong learning in Scotland you can contact the following:
Scottish Executive - www.scotland.gov.uk - 0141 242 0274 (ETLLD Analytical Services Division)
Enquiries to fhestatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Statistics home page - www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/
Publications:
Standard Tables on Higher Education and Further Education in Scotland 2001-02 July 2003
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00270-00.asp
Students in Higher Education in Scotland, 2001-02 May 2003
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00260-00.asp
Students in Higher Education Institutions in Scotland, 2001-02 Mar 2003
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00248-00.asp
First Destinations of Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland, 2000-01 Dec 2002
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00233-00.asp
Higher Education Statistics Agency - www.hesa.ac.uk - 01242 255 577
Non-governmental enquiries to data.provision@hesa.ac.uk
Scottish Further Education Funding Council - www.sfefc.ac.uk - 0131 313 6500
The SFEFC website offers an online analysis service called in-fact www.sfefc.ac.uk/infact/
Non-governmental enquiries to g.mcbride@sfc.ac.uk
Other Information
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service - www.ucas.ac.uk - 01242 222 444
Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education - www.sfc.ac.uk - 0131-313-6500
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