Understanding the information needs of users of public information about higher education

Oakleigh, working with Staffordshire University and Postgraduate Directions, has completed a study for HEFCE on “Understanding the information needs of users of public information about higher education”. The recently published report (which can be downloaded at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rdreports/2010/rd12_10/rd12_10b.pdf) considers what information potential students want and need in making informed decisions about what and where to study; it also makes recommendations on the best ways of delivering this information and who should provide it.

HEFCE’s Director of Education and Participation commented that “Now we have a clearer idea of what prospective students want to know about courses they are considering applying for, and how they would prefer to access this information, we can take bold steps to ensure they receive this. This should enable prospective students to make better informed choices about their future higher education”.

The work feeds in to the government agenda of improving the quality and availability of course information, and HEFCE will be working with Universities UK and GuildHE to consult with the sector on making these changes later this year.

For more details on this work or to discuss Oakleigh’s services to the Higher Education sector more generally, please contact Andy Shenstone (andyshenstone@oakleigh.co.uk)