Welcome... From the Director, Emma Farley
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the first Planning Services e-newsletter – Focus on OPS.
The planning family was formally established in 2015, and united existing teams in the University with a focus to share relevant, timely and accurate information and insights to assist your decision making.
To this end, our quarterly e-newsletter will keep you informed about the Planning and Statistics Portal, enhancements to the University's Data Warehouse, as well as latest data finds, sector and industry action, and not to be missed events and resources.
We'll keep you informed through the Focus on OPS e-newsletter, the planning website, as well as linking you directly with our experts. Don’t be a stranger, if you have any questions, need information or want to collaborate please reach out.
Thanks for your interest, I hope you enjoy and find value in our first edition.
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Table of contents
Enhancements to the Planning and Statistics Portal
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The University’s Data Warehouse – where do we get our information from?
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Retention Modelling Post Migration
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Self-Service Data Analysis & Visualisation - Proof of Concept
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Student Surveys – 2 major surveys launched in August
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Organisational Reviews Upcoming
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AURIN Workshop
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We’re Hiring!
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Enhancements to the Planning and Statistics Portal
Continuing the Business Intelligence team's
drive to provide a coherent picture of the University, we are pleased to
announce the enhancement to the Student Profile for Program and Course
reporting suites in the Planning and Statistics Portal.
Taking on your feedback and suggestions, the
Student Profile for Program and Course is a comprehensive suite of
reports overviewing the demographic and educational background of students.
The enhancements comprise a range of features as
well as quicker execution of the reports.
An improvement is the ability
to select multiple programs to consolidate into a single report.
This
allows a single view of a program delivered across multiple campuses or
articulation pathways.
How to Guide - Overview of Program Planning Performance.2 page pdf ... download this
resource which supports one of the workshops the team delivers to help
staff with accessing data in our top 10 most downloaded reports!
The reports can be run using Semester by
Program, Course, School, Group or University. Attributes include Campus,
Age, Gender, Disability, Pathway, First in Family, Socioeconomic
Status, OP and Preference. We encourage you to explore our updated
website and self-help resources to support you in accessing and
downloading reports via: Self Help and Training Resources
The
PSP works best with Internet Explorer and Firefox, other browsers give
inconsistent results! MAC users get optimal performance through
Firefox. Google Chrome is not recommended.
If you use excel to investigate your data use the RANK function to
and watch a short video.
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The University’s Data Warehouse – where do we get our data?
All data must come from somewhere and yes, while
the diagram above is simplistic it gives you the basic idea (Illustration kindly provided by a talented member of the Strategic Information Services team).
We source and integrate current and historical data from multiple
systems into one place, to be used for reporting and data analysis to
link intelligence with the University’s goals to inform decision making.
The current data is sourced from:
• Student system
• Learning Management system
• Research system
• Survey System
• Human Resource system
• Tertiary Admission Services
We work under the Information Management
Framework which encourages the effective stewardship of data to better
assist the University to meet its strategic objectives and ensure that
our valuable information and data assets are managed appropriately using
the University’s principles below.
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Retention Modelling Post Migration
The Advanced Analytics team have a legacy of providing retention predictions for domestic undergraduate students for Learning Futures and the Student Success Advisors to assist students in their journey through university.
At risk students are identified through
a range of means (e.g. behavioural
risk markers, predictive analytics,
Starting@Griffith Survey, self-referral, staff-referral).
The chance to build some new models has allowed us to introduce some external data into our list of student attributes. We have now incorporated a select list of Census 2011 data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to the modelling dataset.
This has given us an extended view of demographics of our student body were only limited information was available previously and for free (well not without the cost of our blood, sweat and tears). This has been made possible by the recent announcement and subsequent release of the Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) database for free to all interested parties thanks to the Australian Government. This database allows the geocoding of each student address which is then used to add the census data to the student records. If you want to know more about Census data and G-NAF please use the links below:
CENSUS: http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/data
G-NAF: https://www.psma.com.au/sites/default/files/g-naf_product_description.pdf
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Self-Service Data Analysis & Visualisation POC
For the last few months the Advanced Analytics team, in partnership with Information Services, have been working to identify a data visualisation tool that can be used across the University by technical & non-technical staff.
Data visualisation is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.
Patterns, trends and correlations that might go undetected in text-based data can be exposed and recognised easier with data visualisation software.
Currently there are a few tools being utilised in pockets around the institution for this purpose. In OPS we’ve been testing out Tableau for about 18 months and were introduced to some new offerings during the Gartner BI conference earlier in 2016. Through collaboration with a range of administrative divisions a working group has reviewed around six tools and shortlisted two - Qlik Sense and Tableau.
Recently we’ve also identified a third tool, Oracle BI which was by chance brought to our attention by the Finance team. For those interested below links are short introductions from YouTube and links to the product websites:
Qlik Sense Video | Tableau Video
Oracle Video is embedded in website link:
https://www.oracle.com/solutions/business-analytics
We’re now at the pointy end of the exercise and have asked all three parties to present a Proof of Concept showcase of what the tools can do using chosen data from the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) dataset from the Office for Research.
If you would like to know more about this project please contact Clancy Birrell on c.birrell@griffith.edu.au
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Student Surveys
August sees two major surveys launched for Griffith students, the Student Experience Survey (SES) and the Tell Us Survey.
The SES asks onshore undergraduate students in their first and later years of study for feedback on their overall university experience. Touching on things like Skills Development, Learner Engagement, Teaching Quality, Student Support, and Learning Resources, students provide valuable data that feeds into the Federal Government's Quality Indicators for Learning & Teaching (QILT) website.
The QILT website allows prospective students the
opportunity to compare institutions and study areas across Australia. We encourage you to view a 39 second video post that forms part of the marketing campaign to encourage students to take the survey titled "Share your Jewels of Wisdom"...
Videos can only be viewed when signed in to the staff portal
Any student not invited to complete the SES will be asked to undertake the Tell Us Survey. This is a Griffith sponsored instrument that seeks feedback on the non-academic services offered by the University. Non-academic services include Student Administration, Student Services, the Library, IT, Recreation Services, Food, and International Services. Feedback is taken seriously and is used to improve services and the student experience.
Both surveys offer great prizes and eligible students will receive a personal invite to their student email accounts.
In other news, the experience@griffith - Student Experience of Course and Teaching surveys have all been completed for the first half of the year, with over 2000 course surveys being run and the results are quite impressive!
It’s wonderful for OPS to announce the release of the first survey infographic
(snippet above). These resources will be distributed first to the Executive Group and then published to the University community. Shortly the Student Experience Survey (the QILT replacement to the AGS CEQ) – 2015 results will be released.
Attention Teachers: The easiest way to access the experience@griffith system to check SEC and add SETs is via griffith.edu.au/experience; 2016 Semester 2 Academic Review Period starts in Week 9 (19 Sept). We also have a suite of ‘How-to-Videos’ on our webpage e.g. add a SET, add a customised question etc. via our resources webpage.
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Organisational Reviews up coming
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Reviews play an important role in fostering quality and continuous improvement and are designed to improve planning and performance at the University.
In 2016 the Organisational Reviews Unit will oversee the below nine reviews - the most reviews scheduled in many years. Thank you to those who are involved, it is an impressive effort undertaken by the University community.
- Griffith Enterprise (14 - 17 March)
- Queensland College of Art (incl. GFS) (11 - 14 April)
- School of Allied Health Sciences (3 - 7 May)
- Griffith School of Engineering (6 - 9 June)
- School of Education and Professional Studies (25 - 28 July)
- Dept. of Employment Relations and Human Resources (15 - 18 Aug)
- Griffith Law School (19 - 22 September)
- School of Nursing and Midwifery (17 - 20 Oct)
- Office for Research (14 - 17 November)
Each Review is undertaken by an independent external committee and is responsible for providing an objective assessment of the elements.
The Review Committee, which reports to the Vice Chancellor through the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), draws on a range of sources in making this assessment including, extensive data sets, the element's self-review portfolio, as well as the material gathered during the interviews that form part of the three day site visit.
Finally, the Review Committee is responsible for providing recommendations for future action and development concerning the school or administrative area.
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Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network [AURIN] Workshop
Recently a group named AURIN with the assistance of National ICT Australia [NICTA] conducted a workshop at Griffith’s Nathan campus of their new free, online mapping and geodemographic tool.
Clancy Birrell from Advanced Analytics is a big fan of the tool, and is astounded at the effort put into this project.
The benefits to open access to data of this nature are fantastic.
There is more detail on the website, which is jam packed with value including a growing library of training videos and help pages on the tool. As part of this project, the developers approached approximately 80 government departments and have produced data sharing contracts to enable a continued availability of some key enhanced datasets.
Point your browser to: aurin.org.au and look for the link to the aurin map portal.
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PSP Enhancements
Where do I find info on students?
In the PSP there is a comprehensive suite of reports.
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SEC Results
Survey Results Available
Please view the first survey infographic
results for Student Experience of Course.
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We’re pleased to announce a new Data Engineer role within the Advanced Analytics team.
Our resident Data Engineer will focus on the provision of data to the Advanced Analytics team. ‘Provision’ refers to identification, acquisition, storage, processing, documentation, manipulation and general management of the data. Collaborating with a range of stakeholders, the engineer will provide new data, structures and architectures, while optimising and automating existing practices. Part of the role will be to research current and up to date methodologies, make recommendations and incorporate them into our practice.
We’re looking for someone who is passionate about their chosen career as a Data Engineer and willing to try new things and propose novel solutions. There will be a blend of tried and true vs. trialling of new methods but with a focus on applicability and functioning within the constraints of the business. For more information contact Clancy Birrell on x58073.
Another new fixed term role will see the arrival of a Communications Officer with strong stakeholder engagement skills. The Communications Officer will develop and implement a strong foundation to maximise current engagement activities and promote open communication; building a network of awareness and understanding through various events and collaborations.
Ultimately, we are looking for someone who deeply cares about the work they do and enjoys engaging with people. For more information contact Ema Begley on x58438.
We are a friendly bunch that enjoys a good laugh, social activities (we have a run team every year at the GC Marathon) and most of all have true team spirit! So if you know someone looking to join a creative and dynamic team environment please let them know we are hiring!
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