HEDA PlanningAbout IDSC

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2024 PowerHEDA
USER GROUP

26 - 28 November 2024

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THE COMPANY: a proudly South African company in operation since 2003 providing service and support to the Higher Education Sector in South Africa. Our motto of “SIMPLICITY THROUGH INNOVATION” is a challenge which IDSC delivers.More

IDSC offers a range of services and products since 2003 and expanded its services by offering strategic consulting within Higher Education Institutions from 2015.

VISION: To be a sustainable company focusing on client satisfaction through excellent support, innovation and cost effective and viable products.More

EXPERIENCE: With an extensive higher education sector experience, IDSC has created a niche market with the development of the HIGHER EDUCATION DATA ANALYZER (HEDA) as well as offering consulting services in the following strategic areas:

  • Institutional research and planning, examples include performance management,
    enrolment monitoring and planning, research management and student retention
  • Facilitating strategic planning at various levels within an institution
  • Providing strategic analyses of management information at different levels within the institution, including research environmental scanning.
  • Benchmarking institutional performance.


The IDSC Business model is focused on a partnership and is based on a 'win win' strategy.

IDSC offers a LICENSE AND SERVICE LICENSE AGREEMENT whereby:

  • In a standard three year partnership agreement, an institution is licensed to use PowerHEDA modules and receive annual support which includes user group and training session invitations, HEDA software upgrades, networking opportunities and general support.
  • Institutions join the powerHEDA Community which currently consists of twelve higher education institutions. These member institutions meet during the Annual powerHEDA User Group Conference, where enhancements to the powerHEDA system are discussed; prioritized and valuable networking takes place. The User Group determines the direction of future powerHEDA Developments and is the custodian of the powerHEDA Source Code. view more

IDSC plays an important role in the ability of South African Higher Education (HE) institutions to be intelligible to themselves, to make evidence based and informed management decisions. Achieving these objectives lends further support to the experience of the learner in positive ways where both the institution and the learner are made aware of the factors affecting the pathway to graduations and deployment of learners in the broader economy.

The South African HE sector has for many years grappled with poor student retention and throughput, putting pressure on the economy in terms of the provision of adequate skills into the broader economy. The various governing role players (DHET, CHE, NRF, USAf, etc.) continue to highlight deficiencies in the HE sector and are bringing more and more pressure on institutions to become more efficient and effective. The recent upheavals in the HE sector (#feemustfall, insourcing, etc.) bear testament to the fact that HE institutions need to be responsive to the plight of the student body and also to the broader education sector, but need to do this within the constraints of financial aspects, skills shortages and the retention of experienced staff. In response to these pressures, institutions need to have a much better grip on the analytics of the business and need to use the benefits of appropriate technologies and analytical skills to enhance decision making. The recent trends towards enhanced descriptive analytics, predictive analytics and even ‘big data’ bears testament to the shifting needs for analytical skills in the HE sector.

History

IDSC Consulting Pty (Ltd) was established in 2012 as part of the group of companies trading as IDSC. Prior to 2012 the business operated in the HE space as Ramsden Trading (trading as IDSC) and began in 2005 with 3 staff and 3 clients. The business has grown over time, and in 2016 recorded a total of 15 staff and 15 clients. Further growth is evident in 2017 where a total of 17 clients are signed up and a further two are in the process of coming on board.

Over this period the services of the company have evolved in three main areas, (1) data warehousing, (2) analytics and reporting and (3) specialized HE module development. These areas of growth are in a response to identifying a niche area in the South African HE space where skills in these areas are limited. Further expansion to this specialized space is envisaged which is captured in the Strategic Intent below.

IDSC has extensive experience and knowledge in the South African Higher Education sector in the delivery of Management Information and this experience and knowledge is embedded in all our Modules.

PowerHEDA is an Integrated Planning and Reporting Tool which provides reliable, simple and easily understood business intelligence.

Twenty-two (22) HE institutions in South Africa currently use PowerHEDA as their Management Information System. Sixteen (16) of the existing PowerHEDA clients are ITS (AdaptIT) clients with the remaining six (6) clients using other operational (ERP) systems. This demonstrates that the Data Warehouse architecture used in PowerHEDA is not dependant on a specific operational system but integrates with any operational system that is used in the higher education landscape.

Benefits of PowerHEDA

The main benefits of PowerHEDA are the following:

  • Assist with the data quality processes of the institution through an enhanced data management application
  • Make use of an integrated data warehouse environment which enables user-friendly web reporting and decision support modelling by analysing audited HEMIS and/or operational data. HEMIS data are enriched with an additional 400 variables to accommodate hierarchical reporting. The extraction of these enrichment variables are managed by a structured management process.
  • Provide an integrated web portal in the form of a dashboard, where end-users can access all their reporting needs in a secure, single point of reference, user-friendly and managed environment.

IDSC Business Model

The IDSC Business model is focused on a partnership and is based on a 'win win' strategy.

IDSC offers a LICENSE AGREEMENT whereby:

  • In a standard three year partnership agreement, an institution is licensed to use HEDA modules and receive annual support which includes user group and training session invitations, HEDA software upgrades, networking opportunities and general support.
  • Institutions join the HEDA Community which currently consists of twelve higher education institutions. These member institutions meet during the Annual HEDA User Group Conference, where enhancements to the HEDA system are discussed; prioritized and valuable networking takes place. The User Group determines the direction of future HEDA Developments and is the custodian of the HEDA Source Code.

The PowerHEDA system was developed by IDSC and is the only commercial web information portal which analyze and report on HEMIS data.

IDSC retains all copyright and other intellectual property rights on products developed by IDSC either before or during the course of an engagement which may include systems, methodologies, software, and know-how.

Why IDSC

Our competitive advantage

With extensive higher education sector experience, IDSC has created a niche market with the development of the HIGHER EDUCATION DATA ANALYZER (HEDA) system as well as offering consulting services in the following strategic areas:
  • Institutional research and planning, examples include performance management;
  • Enrolment monitoring and planning, research management and student retention;
  • Facilitating strategic planning at various levels within an institution;
  • Providing strategic analyses of management information at different levels within the institution, including research environmental scanning;
  • Benchmarking institutional performance.
These same achievements are being used to promote the new PowerHEDA system and its derivatives and components. This strategy aims to promote this brand further into the higher education industry and beyond. The product suite currently consists of a 14 modules which are either described as data sources, reporting applications or component applications. See here

Our vision

The vision statement ‘Simplicity through Innovation’ is an apt statement for the business of IDSC. This highly technical and complicated environment demands that services and solutions be delivered to clients in ways that adequately support their business and decision-making processes. This is process of building relationships with clients where the institution comes up with a specific problem or need and IDSC adds the technical and/or other skills to develop this into an application or module which forms part of the product suite. The intention is to develop a ‘HEDA community’ where we all learn from each other and share knowledge, ideas and experiences. Achieving this effectively requires the business to provide adequate space and time for new thinking and the agile implementation of tested ideas and can only be done

Product Suite

Currently IDSC services the Higher Education sector in SA with (1) a software product, made up of various modules, that supports evidence-based decision making, (2) a support service that assists institutions in being more aware of the business of higher education.

A fundamental pillar for the future of the business is to recognise the fact that the HE sector in SA and the existing clients that make use of these products and services need to be protected and serviced with the appropriate standards of support.

The product suite can be summarised as:

Data Sources

  1. HEMIS Data Warehouse
  2. ITS Views Data Warehouse
  3. PeopleSoft Data Warehouse
  4. Peer Data Warehouse

Reporting

  1. PowerHEDA

Higher Education Modules

  1. Funding Allocation Model
  2. Business Plan Generator
  3. Enrolment Planning
  4. HEMIS Manager
  5. Student Tracking
  6. Student Application Ranking System
  7. Annual Performance Plan Monitor
  8. Viability
  9. Workload & Staff Time Sheets

Our Goals

Goal 1: Improve the support to the Higher Education Sector in South Africa

Goal 2: Move towards stand-alone, market oriented products

Goal 3: Identify and implement collaborative initiatives and partnerships

Goal 4: Enhance the administration and operations processes

Goal 5: Enhance staff wellness and the skilled workforce

Core Business

The primary focus of IDSC is to provide management information, strategic planning and research management consultation services, support and training to the South African Higher Education Sector.

Examples of services offered by IDSC include the following:
  1. Institutional research and planning, examples include development of strategic and annual performance plans, performance management, enrolment monitoring and planning, research management and student retention/predictive learner analytics
  2. Facilitating strategic planning at various levels within an institution
  3. Providing strategic analyses of management information at different levels within the institution, including research and innovation environmental scanning.
  4. Benchmarking institutional performance.
IDSC is the preferred support service provider for the PowerHEDA Business Intelligence tools and provides support services to universities (on- and off-site) as well as to research institutions/associations.

IDSC aims to, at all times, maintain the highest levels of service to its clients and strives to be the unique provider, to the South African Higher Education Sector.

IDSC Support

All components are supported by a technical support team (80% of IDSC staff) situated in either Potchefstroom or Pretoria offices. Client support is twofold (1) planned and scheduled support which is ongoing and determined by the modules installed and the updates undertaken to these by IDSC, (2) ad hoc support is channelled through our support system where client queries are logged and attended to by the support team in a systematic manner. Clients are able to view the progress of queries, who is working on them and the time taken to resolve and address issues. A summary dashboard in PowerHEDA is available to the client to monitor this process.


dashboard view

  - Higher education data analyser

HEDA Layers

HEDA, the next generation of HEDA, the HIGHER EDUCATION DATA ANALYZER uses the latest technology in databases and custom applications to provide an integrated, reliable and userfriendly tool to produce easily understood Business Intelligence (BI).


HEDA provides a dedicated service to Higher Education institutions by offering modules specifically designed to meet the changing needs of institutions.


HEDA is a Business Intelligence (BI) tool enabling the user to access reliable, timely, accurate data and apply, process and store information in a secure, reliable and consistent environment.

Click here to access HEDA

Portal Layer

All PowerHEDA Dashboards represent data from a secure, flexible data warehouse. The data in the PowerHEDA Warehouse is imported from various sources, including operational data sources and Excel spreadsheets that can be used in conjunction with the HEMIS and Enrichment Data.


The PowerHEDA Portal Layer is the only compulsory module and consists of five core components:

  • Data Component, which includes:
    • Relational and OLAP databases
    • HEMIS Data (per calendar year and submission)
    • Enrichment data tables (the value add institutional data)
    • Data import procedures
    • Datasets
    • Integrated business logic
  • Security Component – a role-based design
  • Web Portal in the form of a dashboard
  • Administrative functions
  • Online help and training resources

Reporting Layer

The PowerHEDA REPORTING layer focuses on different kinds of reports designed to answer the question: “What happened?”. These reports are provided using the DHET Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) data or operational data within the Institution. Reporting is done at strategic and/or operational levels.

  • The Cube Report Viewer module provides multi-dimensional reports to assist with detailed student or staffrelated information and this module enhances the adhoc reporting process at institutions.
  • The HEMIS Management Reporting module is also available to assist institutions with reports at various levels in relation to HEMIS data.
  • The Dashboard module provides a visual display of key performance indicators and metrics on a single interactive screen.

Report view

Key features


The Cube Report Viewer module is a powerful multi-dimensional tool that empowers the user to view, interrogate and report on data quickly without compromising data integrity and accuracy.

Key features of the Cube Report Viewer module include:

  • Build cube solutions
  • A choice of three different viewers
  • Export any view of your data
  • Slice and dice your cube for true multi-dimensional views
  • Drag and drop dimensions and manipulate your cube views

The HEMIS Management Reports module are dynamic, interactive reports, giving the user the power to select exactly the report criteria that is required. All reports are set up with the option to print if required.

Key features of the HEMIS Management Reports module include:

  • Use report templates for rapid report development
  • Select the layout of your static report
  • Create summary and list reports
  • Export your data for further manipulation
  • Parameter-driven reports so that you don’t have to create multiple reports
  • Online link to help and training resources
  • Schedule function to run reports at your convenience

PowerHEDA uses Dashboards to display graphs, data and indicators in a userfriendly manner

Key features of the Dashboards module include:

  • Fully customisable layouts and formatting
  • Integrated data filters at a dataset, report or dashboard level
  • Interactive chart and drillable table widgets to display your data
  • Spark-line graphs at row level to give the visual effect for data comparison
  • Visual display of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) with detail tooltips
  • Link to other PowerHEDA objects including Cube Reports, Management Reports, Documents, Applications and other Dashboards
  • Export a snapshot image of your dashboard or any widget

Analysis Layer

The PowerHEDA ANALYSIS layer focuses on the evaluation of data in different forms to answer the question “Why did it happen?”. Within this component, there are four PowerHEDA Modules.

  • The Application Requirement System (ARS) module evaluates key student information prior to applying to the university in order for the university to select the students qualifying for a particular qualification.
  • The Student Cohort module focuses on the evaluation of activities of a particular student cohort over time and determines the student retention trends at different levels.
  • The Viability modules assess the financial risk of the university/faculty/department/academic programme or academic module.
  • The Resource Allocation Module (RAM) evaluates the different resources of a university and develops scenarios for the fair distribution of resources at different levels within the university.

Analysis View

Key features


Key features of the Application Requirement System module include:

  • Database version of Prospectus with user friendly setup of programme criteria
  • Integrate with NSC Matric results
  • Apply criteria and rank students
  • Parameter driven reports with on the fly adjustment of criteria

Key features of the Student Cohort Analyses module include:

  • Track a predefined cohort of students
  • Measure the cohort reliably and consistently
  • Management and programme overview
  • Student Cohort Analyses uses a proven, established methodology to ensure accuracy
  • User-friendly reports and dashboards

Key features of the Viability module include:

  • Setup of reporting and academic structures
  • Safe and secure environment for financial risk analysis
  • Setup of distribution methodology through data drivers
  • Combine staff, student, finance and research data
  • User-friendly reporting

Key features of the e Resource Allocation Model (RAM) module include:

  • Create Income Projection models
  • Apply long term planning based on targets and norms
  • Analyse academic and support divisions


Analysis Cube

Monitoring Layer

The PowerHEDA MONITORING layer focuses on monitoring annual performance in relation to staff, students and university planning to answer the question “What is happening?”

  • The Annual Performance Plan Module (APPM) monitors and reports on the progress made in relation to the strategic plan of a University, Faculty or Department/School/Division.
  • Interrogator Pro and Audit modules assists a university in monitoring the data quality and management processes in order to rectify incorrect data elements
  • The Student Tracker module assists an institution in monitoring the academic progress of students within academic programmes or modules.
  • The monitoring of activities of academic staff members and the monitoring of time management of academic staff in relation to Teaching and Learning, Research, Community engagement and administrative duties are provided with the Staff Time Sheets and Workload module.

Key features


Key features of the Annual Performance Plan module include:

  • Create multiple plans
  • Target setting for multiple milestones
  • Take snapshots to record a point in time
  • Add multiple activities and costing per resource at any level
  • Assign and evaluate responsibilities at any level
  • Integrate PowerHEDA KPIs into any plan
  • Dynamic reporting on any plan

Key features of the Interrogator Pro module include:

  • Upload HEMIS data to a secure environment
  • Automated error queries on VALPAC
  • User-defined error report distribution setup
  • Email notification of Excel error report to data owners

Key features of the Audit Applications module include:

  • Dynamic setup of audit profiles
  • Secure environment for data handling
  • Auditable change log
  • Upload attachments and add comments
  • Take snapshots to record data at a point in time
  • Make change requests
  • Monitor through audit statuses
  • Detail report of requested changes

Key features of the Student Tracker module include:


  • Identify multiple risk
  • Personalise a custom e-mail template
  • Upload attachments
  • Secure environment for data handling
  • Notification via e-mail or bulk sms file

Key features of the Staff Time Sheets and Workload module include:

  • Link time table, student, staff and research data
  • Use templates for uniform recording
  • Apply institutional guidelines
  • Secure environment for data handling
  • Processes driven by status
  • Capture additional related data if required
  • Create HEMIS Time Sheet Data from Workload
Monitoring View

Prediction Layer

The PowerHEDA PREDICTION layer focuses on forecasting and predicting the future in relation to funding, academic programmes, student enrolments and student retention by answering the question “What might happen?”. There are three PowerHEDA modules and a service that is provided within this component.

  • Predicting the income and student statistics in relation to the offering of new academic qualifications are provided within the Business Plan Generator module
  • The annual subsidy received from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is forecasted using the Funding Allocation Model (FAM).
  • The submission of student enrolment plans to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is performed using the Student Enrolment Planning module. This module also assists in regular monitoring of the agreed-upon student enrolment targets.
  • Predictive Learner Analytics is a statistical service provided by IDSC to determine the probabilities of students at risk and generate a list of student names with contact details.

Key features


Key features of the e Business Plan Generator module include:

  • Generate new programmes for consideration
  • Parameter driven with actual institutional guidelines
  • Financial Rand-value prediction
  • Apply space norms
  • Calculate income and expenditure
  • One page management overview report
  • Integrate with enrolment planning

Key features of the Funding Allocation Model (FAM) module include:

  • Automatically incorporate Ministerial Statement changes
  • Build and compare scenarios
  • Import HEMIS data
  • Capture research data
  • Calculate block grants
  • Distribute to academic levels

Key features of the Student Enrolment Planning module include:

  • Apply default growth parameters
  • Use historical trends for predictions
  • Override parameters
  • Qualification and offering type level
  • Evaluate new qualifications
  • Incorporate DHET Tables
  • Monitor and evaluate the planned models against actual results

Key features of the Predictive Learner Analytics service include:

  • Identify at-risk programmes
  • Extract student data and populateKNIME model
  • Generate probability output
  • Import probability output in PowerHEDA
  • Detail reporting on student level
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HEDA IndicatorPeer Data Sharing

One of the biggest needs regarding benchmarking in the higher education sector is the availability of reliable data. IDSC is a private South African company that developed the web-based Peer Data Sharing (PDS) application to help address the above. A conscious decision was made to use HEMIS data for this data sharing project which enables an institution to compare itself with a selection of Peers on certain indicators.

IDSC developed this web site and will continue to maintain the PDS web site with the financial support of the University of Johannesburg.

Click here to access PDS

 

SATN

An enhancement of the PDS application were requested by the South African Technology Network (SaTN), which provides a flexible tool for comparing aggregated data of the 23 institutions, for the years 2000 to 2007.

The enhanced PDS was commissioned by the SATN Performance Indicators Project and implemented by IDSC, developers of higher education MIS software.

The application allows a user to cluster institutions into groups for purposes of comparison. Data is then extracted for a particular indicator (or type of data) and the result displayed in a line or bar chart.

Up to seven different groupings can be specified by the user. An initial set of 17 indicators is provided. The data used in the graphs is also accessible in tabular form.

The data extracted by the PDS application is from Hemis, the Department of Education’s Higher Education Management Information System. The final, audited submissions of data from the institutions are used, at an aggregated level, as supplied by the DoE.

The new enhancement has been developed as part of the 2008 SATN Performance Indicators Project, to which Universities of Technology and Comprehensive Universities have contributed.

Research Data

An improvement to the PDS web site occurred during May 2009 with the introduction of research related data and also an additional reporting functionality (Indicator Explorer) with the assistance of North West University. This Research related data includes Research Publications, Research Block Grant Funding, and the Number of Rated Researchers in the Higher Education Sector.

HEMIS data

The HEMIS data is annually provided by the Department of Higher Education (DoHE), based on the following process. Second HEMIS submission data (Year N) will be available at the end of May (Year N+1) and final audited HEMIS submission data (Year N) will be available from August (Year N+1). The August data submission will also include any resubmitted data of previous years. It is important to note that the May submission is provisional and possibly incomplete data. On the 10 June 2014 the latest dataset (2013 Sub 2) was received from the DoHeT.