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London Borough of Merton
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Design and Implementation of a
Unique Learner Number
Challenge
Oakleigh Consulting was appointed by the LSC on behalf of the Managing Information Across Partners (MIAP) Programme (senior sponsors for the MIAP Programme’s ULN Project Board) to undertake a short business analysis review of the practical considerations relating to the establishment of a new Unique Learner Number (ULN) and associated ULN Registration Service.
The ULN Project Board were working within the wider MIAP Programme with the aim of establishing a ULN to enable learner information pertaining to learners across the wider post 14 learning sector to be shared more effectively and efficiently.
The Board had identified that the preferred option for the ULN was to utilise the National Insurance Number subject to agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, they also wished to explore in more detail one of the contingency options for the ULN, namely establishing a new number and a supporting ULN Registration Service.
The objectives of the review were:
To establish the current business systems and processes in which a ULN will need to be used, with particular reference to: business processes around learner enrolment with a learning provider; registration for award and recording of award across the FE and HE sectors; incorporation of the ULN into the QCA’s Framework for Achievement; and incorporation of the ULN into schools data
- To understand the mutual dependencies between specified organisations for both receiving and transmitting a ULN, in terms of timing and verification implications.
- To understand how the specified organisations intend to use the ULN in their own systems.
- To establish the likely level of ULN validation and verification service support which may be needed of a ULN Registration Service by specified organisations.
- Consideration of existing learner registers (e.g. National Pupil Database, Ufi, UCAS) and the extent to which these might help to meet the identified uses and requirements of the ULN registration service.
Solution
Each of these areas was considered in order to develop recommendations on the services that would need to be provided by a ULN registration service, in particular:
- Allocation/provision of a new ULN to learners (how this might be issued, by whom and at what point in the learning cycle)
- Validation (and verification) of the ULN.
- As an addendum to this work, Oakleigh were also asked to review the options for the potential format of a new ULN number, specifically:
- What the characteristics of a new ULN might be (what the number might look like)
- What are the processes, issues, risks and constraints encountered by other organisations that are responsible for issuing unique identification numbers to individuals?
To deliver this work, Oakleigh held a series of detailed face-to-face and telephone interviews with selected consultees, and also staged a workshop event for 30 awarding bodies. This was supplemented by in-depth research and business process mapping.
Outcome
Final deliverables for the work included a comprehensive written report including findings from all analysis covered, presented to the ULN Project Board in April 2005.
The MIAP Programme Manager, appreciated the flexibility and pragmatic approach demonstrated by Oakleigh in defining user requirements:
"Oakleigh showed particular strength in responding to a developing situation as key elements of the programme moved forward at differing speeds".
If you have any questions about the subjects covered in this white paper or you would like to find out more about how Oakleigh Consulting could help your organisation, please contact us on 0161 835 4100 or email us.
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