With your permission, we would like to link your Understanding Society survey data with your higher education data.
Table of Contents
What information would be added?
We will be adding information from The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as this is the primary source of higher education (HE) data and analysis in the UK. HESA collects, processes, and publishes data from universities, colleges, and other HE providers.
If you would prefer to read this information in a leaflet, you can download the leaflet Linking your survey data with your higher education records (PDF 350 KB)
Who will use it?
Like your survey responses, the additional information would be used by academic and social policy researchers for non-profit use. It will not be used for sales or marketing research. Any sensitive information would only be made available to these researchers under restricted access arrangements, so the information is used responsibly and safely. Names and addresses are never included in the results and no individual can be identified from the research.
How can linking my higher education data help?
By linking your survey data with data from HESA, there are many research opportunities to explore:
- Researchers can look at how many people are entering higher education and see what the barriers to moving on to higher education are.
- We can better understand if there are benefits in attending higher education and what effect it has on people’s employment in later life.
What are the benefits of me giving consent?
Shorter surveys
If we can link your survey answers with your higher education records, we don’t have to ask you about these in the survey and the interview can be shorter.
Help improve education services
Linking higher education data means researchers can look closer at the educational structure in the UK. In the future, this might help improve the current system.
What does my permission cover?
Information from HESA can only be released with your permission. To make the link between higher education records and your survey responses, we would need to pass on personal information to the government departments and agencies holding the records. They can then add your education records to your survey responses. The necessary personal details include full name, full address, gender, date of birth and higher institution name, where applicable.
These personal details will only be used to identify your information. Before HESA send any information back to us, your name and other personal details will be removed. None of your survey answers will be shared with HESA and
your current or future dealings with these organisations will not change. Like the answers you have given us in the survey, the information additional education information will be treated in confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
How long does my consent last?
We would like to add information relating to your present, past and future circumstances. We are not putting an expiry date to this consent as we do not know exactly when we will obtain and add the information. We will remind you regularly of the permissions you have given, and you are free to withdraw your consent at any time. If you do choose to withdraw your consent, we will no longer link your records to your survey responses going forward. However, we will retain data which has been previously linked if you gave us permission.
What about data security?
Your survey answers and linked education records will be anonymised and will only be used for research and statistics. We are extremely security conscious, and all our systems are password protected and only accessed by a small number of authorised staff. The information we need to exchange with the government departments will be sent via secure transfer systems. We follow the most up–to-date data security protocols and procedures and are compliant with the standards of the ISO 27001 data security protocols and procedures. Your personal details such as your name, contact details and date of birth will be secure at all times.
Are there any risks involved in giving permission?
No. There are no risks associated with linking your education records to your survey responses.
Do I have to let you link my data?
No, linking your higher education data, like the rest of Understanding Society is completely voluntary.
Has the study been reviewed and approved by an Ethics Committee?
Yes. In this case, the study has been approved by the NHS Health Research Authority, East of England –
Essex Research Ethics Committee, reference: 22/EE/0260.
What if I change my mind?
If you wish to withdraw your permission at any point in the future, please write to:
FREEPOST RRXX-KEKJ-JGKS,
Understanding Society, University of Essex,
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ.
Please sign and date your letter.
What if you have concerns about the way the study was carried out?
If you have any concerns about any aspect of the study, or you have a complaint, in the first instance please contact us on Freephone 0800 252 853 or by email contact@understandingsociety.ac.uk. They will pass the information onto the principal investigator of the project, Professor Michaela Benzeval.
If are still concerned, or if you think your complaint has not been addressed to your satisfaction, or you feel that you cannot approach the principal investigator, please contact the departmental Director of Research in the department responsible for this project, Professor Paul Clarke, pclarke@essex.ac.uk.
If you are still not satisfied, please contact the University’s Research Governance and Planning Manager , Mantalena Sotiriadou, ms21994@essex.ac.uk.