Research to support the evaluation of the Diamond Reforms to Higher Education in Wales:

Scoping Interviews with Stakeholders 

The Welsh Government has commissioned OB3 Research (OB3) and Miller Research, to undertake research to support the evaluation of the Diamond Reforms to Higher Education in Wales. The aim of this research is to provide evidence to support an assessment of the first three objectives of the Diamond Reforms;

    1. Widening access to Higher Education.

    2. Strengthening part-time provision.

    3. Strengthening postgraduate provision.

As part of this research OB3 and Miller Research will be gathering information through scoping interviews with stakeholders.

The Welsh Government is the data controller for the research.

The information collected during the project will be included in a report published on the Welsh Government website and possibly in other publications by OB3, Miller Research and Welsh Government.

Your Participation in this research is completely voluntary. However, your views and experiences are important in order to help inform Welsh Government policies.

The contact for this research at OB3 is Nia Bryer.

E-mail address: Nia.Bryer@ob3research.co.uk

PRIVACY NOTICE

What personal data do we hold and where do we get this information?

Personal data is defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) as ‘any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified by reference to an identifier’.

Your name and email address were provided to OB3 and Miller Research by the Welsh Government, who hold your information because of ongoing engagement with you on Higher Education student finance support in Wales. OB3 and Miller Research will only use this information for the purpose of this review.

Participants will be invited via email to take part in an online interview. Your participation is voluntary and if you do not wish to take part or be sent reminders then please reply to the invitation email and your details will be removed.

This research does not require the collection of additional personal data from you except for your image if you agree to the interview being video recorded.

We may need to record interviews for operational reasons. If this is the case, we will make this clear to you before the interview begins, and you will have the opportunity to tell us if you are not happy for the discussion to be recorded. If interviews are recorded, personal data will be removed during the process of transcribing. Recordings will be deleted as soon as this process is completed. If discussions are not recorded, personal data will not be included in written notes prepared during or following the interviews.

You may be invited to take part in further interviews or focus groups as part of this review. Your participation in further interviews or focus groups is voluntary and if you do not wish to take part your details will be removed. You will not be required to provide any further personal information if you are asked to take part in further discussions other than your image as explained above if you agree to a discussion being video recorded.

If you raise a query or complaint and provide personal data requesting a response, the researcher will forward the request only to the relevant official and subsequently delete it from the research data.

What is the lawful basis for using your data?

The lawful basis for processing information in this data collection exercise is our public task; that is, exercising our official authority to undertake the core role and functions of the Welsh Government.

Participation is completely voluntary. Research studies such as this are important for the Welsh Government to collect information and actionable evidence about its ability to deliver government priorities. The information collected in this research, for example, might be used to:

·         to explore the policy and operational context surrounding Higher Education student finance support

·         shape further research activities as part of this contract

How secure is your personal data?

Personal information provided to OB3 and Miller Research is always stored on a secure server. The data can only be accessed by a limited number of researchers working on this project. OB3 and Miller Research will only use this data for research purposes. OB3 and Miller Research have cyber essentials certification.

OB3 and Miller Research have procedures to deal with any suspected data security breaches. If a suspected breach occurs, OB3 and Miller Research will report this to the Welsh Government who will notify you and any applicable regulator where we are legally required to do so.

OB3 and Miller Research will use the information gathered to produce a report that will be published on the Welsh Government website. This report will not include any information that could be used to identify individual participants.

How long do we keep your personal data?

OB3 and Miller Research will hold personal data during the contract period, and any personal data not already removed will be deleted by OB3 and Miller Research within three months of the end of the contract. This includes your contact details.

Individual rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information you provide as part of this research, specifically you have the right:

·         To access a copy of your own data;

·         For us to rectify inaccuracies in that data;

·         To object to or restrict processing (in certain circumstances);

·         For your data to be ‘erased’ (in certain circumstances); and

·         To lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection.

The contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office are: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Phone: 0303 123 1113. Website: www.ico.org.uk

Further Information

If you have any further questions about how the data provided as part of this study will be used by the Welsh Government or wish to exercise your rights using the UK General Data Protection Regulation, please contact:

Name: Emma Hall

E-mail address: emma.hall001@gov.wales

Telephone number: 03000258673

The Welsh Government’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:

Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, Email: DataProtectionOfficer@gov.wales.