1. XCRI Key messages from national bodies Ruth Drysdale Programme Manager Date 26 th Jan 2011

2. In times of funding cuts, HEIs need to ensure that their courses are effectively marketed to a wide audience of potential students, particularly non-traditional students who may be looking for opportunities they can fit around their work commitments. XCRI

3. Support National Strategies: Widening Participation and fair access. Key Information Sheets Higher Education Achievement Report Open Data XCRI

4. Sector Potential Savings £1-2.6M p.a. for 80 HEIs opportunity and productivity savings Preparing data for third parties (except UCAS) in marketing departments reduced by 0.25 FTE =approx £1M. £20,000 savings per HEI (£1.6M) on data maintenance costs per number of courses and rate of turnover. Aggregators and other services (LLNs, HE/FE federations, regional development partnerships, 14-19 agencies, industry sector and professional agencies). XCRI

5. Why now ? The technology (XCRI standard) is sufficiently mature, nearly completed UK and EU standardisation processes. JISC undertaken pilots and demonstrators to enhance usability in HEIs/FECs, and the ease of aggregation of course offerings XCRI

6. Currently no standardised way of capturing and presenting course information for part-time, online and distance learning Potential students finding inaccurate, incomplete course information, and cant compare courses to select appropriate course for their educational need and practical circumstances. Right student on the right course = better retention & progression. XCRI

7. UK HEI ONLINE Course Catalog Increase the availability of high-quality, accurate information about part-time, online and distance learning opportunities offered by UK HEIs Fund institutions to make the process and technical innovations necessary to release an XML feed of their course-related information Create proof-of-concept aggregator and discovery service to bring together this course information and enable prospective students to search it XCRI

8. Who may benefit from this work ? Students – make better informed choice via accurate, up-to- date comparable course information. HEIs – increase visibility of courses; improve management of course-related information, leading to process efficiencies, improved data quality and business intelligence Education sector – greater visibility of courses to promote UK HE overseas. Facilitates analysis of course offerings at national or regional level. Aggregator bodies/course information providers –data freely available adding to existing catalogues or services. XCRI