university students image

Knowing your learners better leads to learner success

Knowing your learners better leads to learner success

Last updated 4 February 2021
Last updated 4 February 2021

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has released Analysing Student Data: Ōritetanga Learner Analytics Ethics Framework to support tertiary education organisations (TEOs) when dealing with data to inform learner success initiatives.

The TEC is supporting our tertiary education system to focus on a tertiary experience that is inclusive, equitable and connected for all learners, including Māori, Pacific peoples and disabled learners. An experience, which enables every person to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to create a fulfilling life.

To make a difference for learners, we need to see TEOs move to a systemic focus with learners at the centre of all aspects of their business. Implementing a holistic learner success approach with strong leadership and centred on understanding all learners, their needs and aspirations is required.

Data is vital to understanding learners’ needs

To really make a change, we really need to understand the learner experience. TEOs need good accurate data and the ability to analyse and use this data.

Better collection, analysis and use of data is key to TEOs understanding their learners and responding to their needs to enable them to succeed. Using data does come with risks, so it needs to be done ethically. We have released Analysing Student Data, a learner analytics ethics framework and a set of tools, TEOs can use to understand the issues of and mitigate risks of dealing with data.

We would like to thank Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for working with us to build and review the guidance and advice in this framework.

Analysing Student Data: Ōritetanga Learner Analytics Ethics Framework is available on the TEC website.

Further information

Watch these presentations on the integration and use of data to inform learner success from the 2019 Ōritetanga Tertiary Success for Everyone Conference.

  • Wintec, discuss how through their analysis and integration of data, they have identified key student needs and developed nine personas across the student journey.
  • Dr Tristian Denley, University System of Georgia, talks about developing new ways to help students graduate, particularly first-generation tertiary students and underrepresented learner groups. He outlines how a data-informed approach can be used to implement a wide variety of system scale initiatives.