S2 Ep11: Episode 11: Data, Drums and Other Diversions

University Registrars Talking About Stuff

This episode of University Registrars and Others Talking About Stuff finds me in discussion with higher education sector data guru Andy Youell.

Whilst Andy started his working life at Rolls Royce working on various aircraft he soon found the appeal of data and HE funding (not to mention sector acronyms) irresistible and joined PCFC just before it merged with UFC and then HEFCE. He became heavily involved in data collection and indeed it was his phone number given as the contact for HESES enquiries. This certainly helped build his sector network, something he continued to develop upon joining HESA in 1996, the beginning of a long engagement which saw him work on all sorts of exciting data projects, including a three year stint running a major sector data improvement programme, HEDIIP (another acronym).

Andy has some excellent insights about the use and misuse of data by both regulators and institutions and the challenges of data governance and the risks for what is still an immature science. We also talk about learner analytics and the data work Andy is doing for his current employer, the University College of Estate Management.

Finally we learn about Andy's ongoing part-time rock star lifestyle - he loves drums and music as well as data - and we uncover a little known fact about his enduring data legacy in relation to the origins of the naming of higher education subject codes.

(With apologies for some background noise in the first part of this recording.)