Lifelong Learning UK
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) is the Sector Skills Council responsible for the professional development of those working in community learning and development, further education, higher education, libraries, archives, information services, and work-based learning.
Texunatech have worked with LLUK to specify, design, develop, rollout and manage the new Staff Individualised Record (SIR) collection system. This project saw Texunatech overhaul an outdated legacy system and process, replacing it with an on-line data collection, validation, reporting and publication solution. This was a fully managed project for LLUK that enabled the agency to collect, validate and aggregate staff records for the transformation of Further Education (FE), Sixth Form College (SFC), Work Based Learning (WBL) and Adult and Community Learning (ACL) providers, representing over one thousand data providers in total. This project involved much pioneering in that new online data process were introduced and that LLUK had held no previous experience in collecting data from such wide and disparate sources.
The Texunatech and LLUK project team worked seamlessly together to develop a strong partnership, adopting a transparent and pragmatic approach to enable LLUK and its stakeholders to have full visibility of this innovative project. The entire solution was implemented using Texunatech’s web-based ‘Soltex’ platform.
The solution officially went live on July 28, 2007 and the first data collection for FE institutions has been completed.
LLUK SIR data collection portal
Data capture and cleansing has been achieved through the following mechanisms:
- Web-based fully e-GIF compliant, RNIB (See it Right standard) and WAI (up to AAA) usability standards-compliant forms;
- File uploads and feeds in a variety of formats from a variety of Human Resource software;
- Real-time data validation and transformation of data via complex business rules and calculations presenting submission discrepancies and comparisons against historic and sector aggregates, and
- Workflow and CRM components to automate the data collection and cleansing processes — minimising burdens and freeing up valuable LLUK resources.
Other SIR collection elements
Along with the core database, online collection and workflow functionality, this system encompasses a range of utility modules and components including.
- OLAP reporting components for complex, real-time custom analysis representing database-wide reporting;
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool to enable joint LLUK and Texunatech helpdesk team efficiently communicate with providers;
- Security area that enables LLUK staff to manage provider access to SIR collection system and monitor data collection progress, and
- Continuous helpdesk support and reference materials for data collection providers.
SIR16 (2007/08) collection review
SIR16 collection was the first one undertaken by Texunatech in partnership with the LLUK. This collection has been reviewed to assess the performance of the new SIR Data collection portal. The results can be summarised as follows:
- Increased sector participation (17% on previous year);
- Increased data volumes (29% on previous year);
- Qualitative support from end users:
- 65% positive feedback on the system/process (5% negative only);
- 85% agreed the system/process reduced burdens; and
- Many comments received such as ‘Much simpler’, ‘better than last years’, ‘Happy!’.
- Further Education Workforce data for England 2007/08 analysis report is now published.
Highlights
- Solution delivered and supported according to industry standards and best practices;
- Online data collection workflow for several thousand providers across the UK with instant validation;
- Summary data compared against industry and historical aggregates;
- Data feeds from 35 human resource software solutions by different vendors;
- Legacy database integration, and
- Flexible OLAP reporting allowing for robust sector wide analysis.