Research to support the review of the Welsh Government Learning Grant (Further Education): Survey of Applicants

The Welsh Government has commissioned OB3 Research (OB3) to undertake research to support the review of the Welsh Government Learning Grant (Further Education) (WGLG FE) in Wales. The aim of this research is to review eligibility, understand the profile of recipients, assess impact on learner participation, engagement and financial resilience, and to explore the effectiveness of the current model versus potential alternatives.

As part of this review OB3 Research will be gathering information through a survey of applicants who have applied for the WGLG (FE) grant be their application successful or unsuccessful. Participants are being invited to take part in the survey via email.

The Welsh Government is the data controller for the research. However, OB3 Research will delete any personal data provided, and anonymise the raw data, before it is shared with the Welsh Government.

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 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 Research by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government received your information from the Student Loans Company who are a non-profit making government-owned organisation that administers loans and grants to students in colleges and universities in the UK. OB3 Research will only use this information for the purpose of this review.

Your participation is voluntary and if you do not wish to take part or be sent reminders at any stage 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. Your responses to the survey will be anonymous. If you choose to provide additional personal data as part of the research we will try not to identify you from, or link your identity to, the responses you provide.  

At the end of the survey you will be given the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a £50 shopping voucher. In order to enter the prize draw, you will need to provide your email address using a separate registration form that is not linked to your survey results in any way.

If you enter the prize draw then OB3 Research will select a random email address to then send the Love2shop voucher.

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:

·         better understand the impact the grant is having upon learners

·         provide recommendations for the way the WGLG (FE) is administered.

How secure is your personal data?

Personal information provided to OB3 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 Research will only use this data for research purposes. OB3 Research has cyber essentials certification.  

When conducting surveys, OB3 Research use a survey software programme called Snap Surveys. We have ensured that Snap Surveys is UK GDPR compliant and meets our expectations in terms of the security of any data stored or collected via the software.

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

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

OB3 will provide Welsh Government with an anonymised version of the survey data which will not include information that could identify you.

Individual rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information you provide as part of this review, 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: James Lundie

E-mail address: james.lundie@gov.wales

Telephone number: 03000 251652

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

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