UCM Degree Courses - Viability Metrics etc

Summary

The requester sought viability metrics, ministerial correspondence, and qualitative reports regarding UCM degree courses for 2023-26 following the withdrawal of the History and Heritage course. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided application statistics and conversion data but confirmed it does not hold the requested ministerial correspondence or qualitative reports.

Key Facts

• The History and Heritage degree course was withdrawn for the 2025-26 academic year.
• UCM uses metrics such as conversion rates, progression rates, achievement rates, and residential status to determine course viability.
• Application statistic reports and conversion information for 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 were released.
• Information regarding non-degree courses within the released documents was redacted.
• The authority does not hold information passed to the DESC Minister concerning withdrawn courses or qualitative viability reports.

Data Disclosed

• 2023-24
• 2024-25
• 2025-26
• 24th June 2025
• 31 July 2025
• 28 August 2025
• Q10 House of Keys
• case_id: 4841410

Original Request

In her response to Q10 House of Keys sitting 24th June 2025 the DESC Minister stated: 'Every year, UCM monitors the application numbers for all courses and makes informed decisions about what can be offered. Significant time and effort is invested in reviewing all applications and on this occasion, after careful consideration, the difficult decision was made to withdraw the History and Heritage degree course for 2025-26. The UCM Senior Leadership Team uses a variety of metrics to determine the viability of any provision in order to make a timely decision whether to withdraw or continue a degree course. These include conversion rates, which is the comparison of the number of applications and the number of enrolments from previous years, progression rates from previous years, achievement rates from previous years, and the residential status of applicants. These metrics help to determine whether the learning experience and achievement potential of each course is of the highest possible quality. The number of applications received for the course is not a determining factor on its own.' I seek information in relation to this, namely: For each degree course (a) delivered and (b) withdrawn in the academic years 2023-24, 2024-25 and for those due to be delivered and those which have been withdrawn for 2025-26, such data as is held (including but not limited to the metrics referred to in the Minister's Keys answer above) and used to inform decisions to continue or withdraw; and Information passed to the DESC Minister and/or DESC Political Members concerning those degree courses which were or will be withdrawn in each of the academic years above together with any responses; and Any qualitative reports produced on the viability of UCM degree courses for the 3 academic years specified above.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 4841410 28 August 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 31 July 2025, which states:

"In her response to Q10 House of Keys sitting 24th June 2025 the DESC Minister stated:

'Every year, UCM monitors the application numbers for all courses and makes informed decisions about what can be offered. Significant time and effort is invested in reviewing all applications and on this occasion, after careful consideration, the difficult decision was made to withdraw the History and Heritage degree course for 2025-26.

The UCM Senior Leadership Team uses a variety of metrics to determine the viability of any provision in order to make a timely decision whether to withdraw or continue a degree course. These include conversion rates, which is the comparison of the number of applications and the number of enrolments from previous years, progression rates from previous years, achievement rates from previous years, and the residential status of applicants. These metrics help to determine whether the learning experience and achievement potential of each course is of the highest possible quality. The number of applications received for the course is not a determining factor on its own.'

I seek information in relation to this, namely:

For each degree course (a) delivered and (b) withdrawn in the academic years 2023- 24, 2024-25 and for those due to be delivered and those which have been withdrawn for 2025-26, such data as is held (including but not limited to the metrics referred to in the Minister's Keys answer above) and used to inform decisions to continue or withdraw; and

Information passed to the DESC Minister and/or DESC Political Members concerning those degree courses which were or will be withdrawn in each of the academic years above together with any responses; and

Any qualitative reports produced on the viability of UCM degree courses for the 3 academic years specified above."

Our response to your request is as follows:

1. For each degree course (a) delivered and (b) withdrawn in the academic years 2023-24, 2024-25 and for those due to be delivered and those which have been withdrawn for 2025-26, such data as is held (including but not limited to the metrics referred to in the Minister's Keys answer above) and used to inform decisions to continue or withdraw;

Please find enclosed copies of the information held, including application statistic reports and Higher Education application resident and non-resident conversion information for the academic years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Please note some of the information included within the enclosed documents is out of scope of your request as the information relates to courses that are not degree level. As your request is specific to degree courses this information has been redacted in grey.

1. Information passed to the DESC Minister and/or DESC Political Members concerning those degree courses which were or will be withdrawn in each of the academic years above together with any responses;

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

1. Any qualitative reports produced on the viability of UCM degree courses for the 3 academic years specified above.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

Please quote the reference number 4841410 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.