25 April 2024

Through data collection and analysis expertise, Graduate Outcomes survey data reveals the bigger picture of the career paths and opportunities taken by recent graduates. It’s aim - to drive innovation in higher education.

One of the ways we can demonstrate the quality of this data is by gaining accreditation from the Office of Statistics Regulation (OSR).

Six years in the making, we’re delighted to announce that the data and statistics being released this year (graduates from the class of 2021/22) will carry the OSR kitemark of ‘Accredited Official Statistics’ – the highest award of data quality.

The OSR provide independent regulation of all official statistics produced in the UK. To meet the high standard required to reach Accredited Official Statistics (called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007) status, the data and the organisation producing them must demonstrate a commitment to principles of trustworthiness, quality and value.

This kitemark means that graduates who complete the survey will know that HESA (who produce the statistics) demonstrates an “exemplary” commitment to these principles. Other users of the data can also be assured of its reliability for the purposes of planning and decision-making. 

Jonathan Waller, Director of Data and Innovation at HESA, says: “Users of this data can feel confident that it represents one of the best sources of information about study outcomes and the graduate labour market in the UK and compares very favourably with equivalent surveys conducted anywhere in the world.”

This data has some very powerful uses including the regulation of higher education providers, innovation, research and policy making. Did you use Discover Uni, the Guardian University Guide or Prospects Career Guides to help you choose where and what to study? If you did, then Graduate Outcomes data would have helped you get where you are today. 

If you’re due to take the Graduate Outcomes survey this year, we hope this demonstrates our commitment to quality, using your data to empower the students of tomorrow.

Later in the year, HESA will publish the latest statistics from the class of 2021/22 and we’ll share a selection on our survey results page. Read more about this achievement and view the report in full on HESA’s website.