HESA: Academic Teaching Qualification Questionnaire

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is HESA?

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is the official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education. It operates on behalf of the higher education sector and has formal agreements with government departments to provide the data which it requires.

2. What do HESA do with my data?

The data we send to HESA is used by central government departments, agencies and other devolved administrations to enable them to carry out their statutory functions. It is also used for statistical analysis by HESA and the above bodies. The University’s data protection statements on HESA are available at http://www.shef.ac.uk/cics/dataprotection/hesa

3. How will the teaching qualification data I provide be used?

This information will enable the University to fulfil its statutory obligation to provide amalgamated/anonymised information to HESA on the teaching qualifications of academic and teaching staff.

4. Don’t you already have this information?

Although many academic and teaching staff update their CVs on a regular basis, specific teaching qualification information has not been held on the staff record as it has not previously been a statutory reporting requirement.

5. What does this mean to me?

As well as enabling the University to fulfil its statutory obligations, the data collection exercise will provide the University Executive Board with important information to collectively consider and agree how best to support continuing professional development activity in relation to teaching and learning activity.

6. Should I complete the questionnaire, even if I currently have no formal teaching qualifications?

Yes please, as we need to tell HESA how many staff do not currently hold teaching qualifications.

7. Are newly appointed staff being asked for this information as well?

Yes. The University’s e-recruitment system has been amended so it now records this information at the point of employment application.

8. I completed the Sheffield Certificate in Academic Practice (CAP, forerunner to CiLT) - where should I record this?

You should enter this under 'Other Teaching Qualifications or Professional Accreditation'.