Student and staff data: use of data analytics and machine learning

The request was partially successful.

Dear University of Worcester,

I am making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Please can you provide information pertaining to any data analytics software used by the university using personal data about your students and staff, since 2012.

1a). Whether you are using any data analytics software at all:
1b) if so, which ones?
1c) what date this data analytics processing began?
1d) indicate whether in the past and ended, or still in current use

2a). Any predictive analytics software such as used in but not only, Blackboard, Xray and JISC supported Civitas.
2b) if so, which ones?
2c) what date this analytics processing began for predictive purposes?

3. If the answer to Q1a or Q2a is yes, please provide a copy of any contract terms on using the data by the provider company including
a) the data items feedling analytics, any profiling, and/or used in prediction
b) what the prediction purposes / aims are
c) training the software (such as AI and machine learning) by the provider using the data provided via your organisation.

4. Whether the University is using its own student or staff population data for machine learning for purposes not included in 1-3 above? (ie but not only, within the university computing department for any project or with another third-party)

5. From which time periods were the student or staff data collected which are processed in any of the above (ie not only, retrospective student data from the last ten years / only current intake which began in autumn term 2018)?

6. How many people/user accounts have access to the whole population student data in any of the above in this calendar year?

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

Jen Persson

Helen Johnstone, University of Worcester

Dear Ms Persson

I confirm receipt of your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act and that we will respond within the statutory 20 working days

Regards

Helen Johnstone

Helen Johnstone
Head of Information Assurance/Manager – University Strategic Projects
University of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester WR2 6AJ

Tel: 01905 855014
https://www.worcester.ac.uk/informationa...

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Helen Johnstone, University of Worcester

Dear Ms Persson

Further to your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act our response is as follows

1 - We use PowerBI for reporting on student date, we have used it for approximately 2 years. PowerBI is provided as part of the Microsoft Campus agreement and we pay a per user licence. We do not use any data analytics software for staff data
2 - we do not use any predictive analytics software

I am obliged, under the Freedom of Information Act, to inform you of our complaints procedures in case you are unhappy about the way in which your request has been dealt with.
If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a review by writing to the Pro Vice Chancellor Students, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Telephone: 0303 123 1113 – www.ico.gov.uk

Regards

Helen Johnstone
------------------
Helen Johnstone
Head of Information Assurance/Manager – University Strategic Projects
University of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester WR2 6AJ

Tel: 01905 855014
https://www.worcester.ac.uk/informationa...

show quoted sections