The first part of this blog set out the proposition for a national student record system to be selected, procured and deployed in every UK HEI resulting in substantial financial savings and major reductions in organisational pain. Following the example of Sweden’s national student record system, called Ladok, the UK would move towards the implementation of a new system known as SAMS, the national Student Administration Management System.
Of course, there would be some drawbacks and difficulties with the proposed implementation of SAMS. Not least would be the perceived challenge to much cherished institutional autonomy. Indeed, this would in all likelihood be the author’s first complaint should such a system be imposed on the sector and were it not my proposal. Instead of joining those in gowns on the barricades in front of the ivory towers, though, any HEI leader should be pausing first to reflect on the many benefits set out above and also on the fact that, a bit like plumbing, freedom to choose your pipe supplier and welder doesn’t actually matter that much. There are bigger regulatory battles to fight.
The other potential downside is also a win. Yes, it might be argued that SAMS will represent a lowest common denominator offer and be a genuinely vanilla product which provides the basics, the real fundamentals, simply and directly for all. In fact, this is a huge plus for HEIs in that it precludes all that costly customisation and messing about which is where the real cost and pain comes in. Institutions are therefore being protected from themselves for their own good. So, even the bad news is good news.
