UCAS-Learner Register (LR) -ULN & PLR HEI Pilot
With UCAS, the Learner Register (LR) (previously known as MIAP) has embarked on a HEFCE-JISC funded Pilot in Higher Education during 2010, which resulted in a series of sector-specific case studies. These explored the benefits and opportunities of implementing the Learning Records Service's lifelong Unique Learner Number (ULN) and the Personal Learning Record (PLR) within the HE sector.
UCAS - Learner Register (previously known as MIAP) Consultation Event
The first large
consultation event was held on 17 March 2010 and provided an opportunity to discuss the proposed pilots with colleagues from across the sector.
The pilots were jointly funded by JISC and
HEFCE and have the support of MIAP's
HE Advisory Group which is chaired by Professor Sir Robert Burgess (Chair of the
UCAS Board and VC of the University of Leicester).
MIAP - Managing Information Across Partners is now called Learner Register and is a government-funded set of services to enable data sharing across the education sector including:
- Learner Register (LR) which allocates lifelong Unique Learner Numbers (ULNs) to learners
- Personal Learning Record (PLR) which displays a verified record of an individual's qualifications and achievements in education
These services are already established in England in schools (post-14), FE colleges and work-based learning organisations.
The Learner Register streamline the collection of information on learning and achievement by enabling data to be shared and used by appropriate stakeholders across the education sector so that learners receive better and more tailored services. The services offered by the programme are now available across the education sector in England, Northern Ireland and Wales from the age of 14 for the lifetime of individuals.
Learner Register (LR) and Unique Learner Number (ULN)
The Learner Register internet-based LR has the capability to assign a 10-digit ULN to every person over the age of 14 in education and training in the UK and confirms with them how their learning participation and achievement data is shared.
The ULN and associated learner data will ultimately be shared with schools, post-16 education institutions, and universities in all UK administrations. There are now over 8 million learners with a ULN and most students enrolling from state funded schools in England will already have one.
An optional ULN field has also been included in both the HESA and UCAS datasets, and has been included in the HE Achievement Report (HEAR) data schema. The ULN was mandated in September 2008 for learning provision directly funded by the Learning and Skills Council.
Personal Learning Record (PLR)
The ULN will allow students to build a lifelong record of their learning participation and achievements (a Personal Learning Record) which they can access and choose to share. Learners will be able view their PLR and retain full control over who sees which elements, including their demographic details. Learners will not be able to change a factually correct the record, but they will be able to ‘challenge’ errors in it. A small-scale PLR pilot was undertaken during 2008/09 and is being followed by a controlled national rollout in January 2010.
A set of common data definitions (CDDs) underpins the Personal Learning Record. The CDDs were developed by HESA, introduced during 2006 and are being adopted by all organisations collecting information from learning providers.
Development of the PLR, including CDDs, will facilitate an improved flow of information, involving the learner, between all parties, from schools to employers, leading to more effective data sharing and better decision making.
Aims and Objectives
The primary aims of the HE pilots of the Unique Learner Number (ULN) and Personal Learning Record (PLR) in HE are to:
- Test the robustness of the Learning Record Service's System and Services for the HE sector
- Provide proof of concept around the use of the ULN in HE
- Demonstrate the value of embedding ULNs into HEIs operational services
- Test the benefits of the ULN and PLR to HEIs and students
- Explore the sector drivers e.g. information sharing to benefit activities around lifelong learning; workforce and employer engagement; franchised and collaborative provision with FE and other learning providers; co-funded and bespoke provision;
- Explore usage drivers e.g. pull from students
In addition, the pilot will evaluate the user journey, experience and satisfaction, and analyse the business impacts on Learner Registration Bodies (LRB) in HE. Initially, this will be done from the LRB perspective by testing:
- Product positioning, confirmation of benefits and key messages
- Help, tutorials and supporting guidance
- Access, look and feel, navigation and use
- Data quality (accurate and relevant) and data challenge
- Responsiveness against service levels and user satisfaction
- Business impact and integration with people, processes, systems, data
Scenario(s) the HEIs are piloting
Learner application via UCAS Apply
ULNs are already passed to Institutions via UCAS if one is provided. The UCAS pilots will start to verify the ULNs provided on application and access corresponding PLR data. Pilot institutions will be asked to undertake their own verification against known data or by inviting a selected group of learners to check the data to ensure validity. They will also be asked to consider the usability of the verified data provided, comment in its usefulness and make suggestions for future developments.
Learner Direct Entry to HE
Learners applying direct to HEIs where application is not available via UCAS, for example via partnership colleges or work based learning/employer engagement routes to part time or short courses, will require a ULN to be allocated or verified by the HEI. Later this year some individuals’ achievement data will be available to HEIs through the PLR. International students studying in the UK can also be included and the ULN could potentially help to support the requirements of the UK Border Agency.
Learner studying at multiple institutions
Learners on certain courses (e.g. nursing, health studies) may have undertaken previous study which could benefit their existing course or they may be taking courses of study at different institutions through collaborative provision. The ULN provides an opportunity to pull together this learner information from institutional and Learning Records Service's PLR records.
Graduate Applications, e-Recruitment and the HEAR
Graduates will be issued with a HEAR and may also have a PLR, both can be used to verify achievement on application for further courses or employment.
Pilot Case Studies
For more information about the Pilots please contact Ruth Drysdale