Readers familiar with cadence of HESA statistical outputs will be used to the annual cycle starting with student and staff data published each new calendar year and ending with Graduate Outcomes or estates data in early summer. For the last 20 years the UK Performance Indicators (UKPIs) have come out during February and March showing non-continuation rates and the proportion of entrants from less advantaged backgrounds.
The UKPIs have stayed broadly consistent over time while other HESA stats have evolved in content and layout. That evolution has been a necessary adaptation to a changing environment - technology, expectations, and especially policy and regulation across the UK.
As any student of evolution will know, failure to adapt at sufficient speed can lead some species to extinction.
