The Special Interest Group (SIG) 'Exploiting Data Repositories' started in 2006 with its first meeting during the EAIR Forum in Rome, Italy. You find the meetings of earlier years under archive.

Steering Group:
Vic Borden
Indiana University
USA

Urs Hugentobler
ETH Zürich
Switzerland
urs.hugentobler@fc.ethz.ch

Helena Lim
Higher Education Academy
United Kingdom
Helena.Lim@heacademy.ac.uk

Coordinators from the start until 2007 were:
Marcel Herbst
Switzerland

Mantz Yorke
United Kingdom

SIG meeting 28 August 2011, Warsaw (Poland)
Chairs: Vic Borden • Indiana University - Bloomington • USA and Urs Hugentobler • ETH Zürich • Switzerland

This year's session will feature a presentation by Elise Miller, program director for postsecondary institutional studies, at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education regarding the federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Ms. Miller will describe the history and context of this system, demonstrate some of the tools made available to policy makers and researchers for using the resulting data repository and discuss the potential for using IPEDS data for international comparisons. Ensuing group discussion will consider the potential for further alignment between IPEDS, European, and other international higher education data repositories.

SIG meeting 1 September 2010, Valencia (Spain)
Chair and Co-Chair: Paul Gorman and David Kane • Aston University and Birmingham City University • Birmingham • United Kingdom

SIG meeting 23 August 2009, Vilnius (Lithuania)
Coordinators: Urs Hugentobler and Vic Borden

There is a growing need at European Universities for external comparative data to support strategic decision making. However, unlike in the US, there are not many publically available data sources containing detailed comparative data.

The purpose of this SIG is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge about and share experiences with such comparative institutional data sources. Based on three case studies, discussion will focus on the development of valuable data sources and how to supplement them with internal data for more effective management planning and analysis.

SIG meeting 24 August 2008, Copenhagen (Denmark)
Introduction and programme SIG meeting Copenhagen (pdf)
Powerpoint presentation SIG Exploiting Data Repositories shown during the pre-Forum meeting in Copenhagen
Powerpoint presentation David Kane shown during the pre-Forum meeting in Copenhagen.

The focus of the SIG in Copenhagen was on exploiting data repositories and information sources to produce strategic performance indicators in order to support internal university management and governance decision making. There was a wide scope for contributions in this area: for instance, how institutions use strategic indicators; which indicators are being used and which should be included in the future; how the data is presented for decision-makers at various levels. The meeting was interactive and participatory with opportunities for participants to share experiences and good practice from their own institutions. The session provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and create a network for interested individuals to learn from each others' expert knowledge. The group reviewed briefly suggested ongoing projects for the SIG that interested participants can pursue after the Forum.