DIG is a system for reviewing and validating our data. Previously, this data has been collected by School Professional Services staff using Campus Solutions which is usually incorrect as it is used for other purposes such as access to the Virtual Learning Environment. For course unit surveys 2024/25, the team will provide academic unit leads (course unit director/convenor) with access to review their unit data in Explorance Blue through the Data Integrity Gateway (DIG). 

Within DIG, academic unit leads can look at who has been linked to the unit and then add or remove staff easily. The task should be quick to complete as unit leads are best placed to know who needs to be included. This should make the process more efficient as well as increase accuracy. Once data has been checked in DIG, the team can use the current year’s approved data as a starting point for checking data in the following year which will remove the repeated errors that we have seen in the past.

Academic unit leads who have access to DIG will be able to: 

DIG is an intuitive system, but we have produced some bitesize videos to help with common queries. After checking your data and completing any actions in the system, don’t forget to publish your data so that the team know your information is correct. You should do this even if you have made no changes to confirm the data has been checked. 

MLY is a closed-loop AI-powered qualitative analysis tool developed by Explorance, the company who also develop the Blue survey software used by The University. The platform distills data-driven actional feedback, using machine learning (ML) models purpose-built for higher education to turn large comment datasets into structured analysis which colleagues can easily engage with and deliver against.  

By analysing free-text comment survey question responses MLY provides topic-specific sentiment analysis, providing an accurate representation of a cohorts feeling (positive, negative, neutral) whilst also allowing the user to dig into specific themes and topics. In addition,MLY allows users to go beyond just sentiment analysis by producing recommendations (what to start, stop, change) from the same survey comment data. 

MLY is also able to raise any sensitive topics that impact students or staff and require immediate attention from colleagues engaging with the system.  

MLY is being used to analyse unit survey, mid-semester survey and NSS survey comments holistically, but also within individual school and departmental areas.  

Schools have identified colleagues who they wish to have access to MLY at this time. These were agreed by the School Academic Teaching and Learning lead (Head of Education, Director of Education, Director of Teaching, Learning and Students), and School Head of Teaching, Learning and Student Experience (HoTLSEs).  

If you believe you should have access to comments in MLY please speak to your school and ask them to get in touch with the team. 
 
If you have further questions about MLY please speak to the team. 

The University previously used Ekit but the decision was taken to replace this with Explorance Blue as it aligned more closely with our strategic objectives as well as integrating more flexibly with our University systems.  

All previous survey responses from 2018/19 until 2021/22 have been kept in a Sharepoint site. Please contact the team using the central email below if you would like access to your previous survey results. Following our records retention policy, we will continue to keep all previous survey responses for the current academic year plus five years.