What data protection issues might arise?
Data protection issues include the accuracy of contact details and the fairness of using them for the purpose of the survey. If institutions always use the letter and email texts provided by HESA to undertake the Early DLHE survey each time they contact a leaver then there should be no issues. Problems might arise when institutions have told qualifiers something that is different from the way the survey is to operate, or if e.g. a department which does not manage the DLHE Survey tells the leaver something that contradicts the information in the letter and email texts. Institutions should investigate what fair processing statements have been given to their qualifiers. If, in the institution’s view, qualifiers have been given statements that are inconsistent with the passing of contact details to a third party organisation conducting the Longitudinal Survey, then the institution should take steps to rectify this. Examples of inconsistencies are: when qualifiers have been told that their
