The Higher Education Commission launched its fourth inquiry report, From Bricks to Clicks - The Potential of Data and Analytics in Higher Education, on 26 January 2016.

This report undertakes a review of the current data landscape across English higher education institutions, looking at data collections, learning analytics and the current barriers to implementing better data management and data analytics. It then looks ahead to how the HE sector may change in the next 5-10 years, how institutions can take advantage of the exciting opportunities that greater engagement with data and analytics offer, and how HE students stand to benefit.

The report finds that data analytics has the potential to transform the higher education sector, but cautions that UK institutions are currently not making the most of the opportunities in this area. It makes a series of recommendations targeted at the sector to help them take advantage of these opportunities and prepare for the data-driven future of higher education.

If you have any questions about the report, please contact simon.kelleher [at] policyconnect.org.uk 

The inquiry is generously supported by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Tec Trust Fund.

Download the report
Download the press release

Media coverage and sector response

• The Guardian
• HESA response
• Jisc response
• Jisc (blog by Chief Executive Paul Feldman)
• Media FHE (blog by NTU's Ed Foster)
• UKAuthority
• The Open University
• University of London