The use of Geographical Information Systems in understanding student and catchment profiles

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The use of Geographical Information Systems in
understanding student and catchment profiles

• Maura McGinn
• Director of Institutional Research
• maura.mcginn_at_ucd.ie

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Introduction

• What is GIS
• The context of the National Plan for Equity of
  Access to Higher Education 2008-2013
• Different Data Sources

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What is GIS

• GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing,
  checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing
  and displaying data related to its geographical
  position
• Typically data are built up in layers. Each layer
  holds data about a particular kind of feature
• GIS can relate otherwise disparate data on the
  basis of common geography, revealing hidden
  patterns, relationships, and trends

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The Context

• The context of the National Plan for Equity of
  Access to Higher Education 2008-2013
• Address the poor participation of students from
  the Semi-skilled and unskilled manual group at
  third level.
• Target for the HE sector to increase the entry
  rates of all Socio-Economic groups to at least
  54 by 2020.
• The HEA currently monitor this by collecting data
  from our incoming students.

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So, how can GIS help?
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The Data Layers 1. HEA Incoming Student Survey
on Under Represented Groups

• Incoming first year students
• Socio-Economic Group Coding
• UCD Profile

• Concentration in Higher Socio-Economic Groups
• Below average in mid-low Socio-Economic Groups

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The Data Layers 2. UCD Incoming Student Data

• 20 of UCD incoming students come from 11
  secondary schools
• 80 of UCD incoming students com from 187 (37 of
  all secondary schools)

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The Data Layers 2. UCD Incoming Student Data

• Locating incoming student
• Can identify UCD Catchment areas

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The Data Layers 3. Census of Population 2006,
Central Statistics Office

• Census is available at Electoral Districts (EDs)
• Mapping variables quickly shows patterns within
  the data

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Combining Layers

• Can identify the top feeder schools
• Can identify concentrations of high
  socio-economic group

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Identifying Target Areas

• Target areas of high concentrations of lower
  socio-economic groups
• Overlay secondary schools graded by the number of
  UCD student

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Questions ??

• Maura McGinn
• Director of Institutional Research
• maura.mcginn_at_ucd.ie