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Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability
The Office of Competitive Intelligence and Analytics (CIA) delivers excellence in data and machine learning services to support Western Sydney University staff in making data-driven decisions, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering innovation.
Our mission is to empower the University community with advanced analytics, insightful reporting, and predictive modelling. By leveraging these tools, we aim to help you achieve strategic goals and maintain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving higher education sector.
- List Of Available Dashboards
- LEOPortal Data Applications
- Student Surveys and Feedback
- Data Engineering
- Student Experience & Marketing Analytics
- Tertiary Collection of Student Information (TCSI)
- Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
- Portfolio Services
- Visualise Your Data With Actionable Insights
List Of Available Dashboards
CIA produces a wide range of dashboards in Tableau that are available to all staff using the University staff ID number (without the @westernsydney.edu.au) and password.
If you need assistance accessing a dashboard or finding the most suitable dashboard for your needs, please submit a Data Request. Our team is ready to provide prompt advice and service to ensure you have the data you need.
LEOPortal Data Applications
Since its inception in 2021, the University’s Load and Enrolment Optimisation (LEO) project has significantly enhanced the precision and timeliness of forecasting student load at Western Sydney University. By leveraging advanced machine learning and forecasting techniques, CIA has reduced the risk of fluctuations in student load and provided real-time accuracy to decision-makers and planners.
CIA’s LEOPortal web applications are available to approved senior and executive staff, offering the latest student load and revenue forecasts generated by CIA. These applications also provide access to the incoming pipeline of student information and enrolment status, enabling dynamic management of the student lifecycle and optimal allocation of resources across schools within the Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS), International student system, and Domestic Fee-Paying (DFP) volumes.
Access to the LEOPortal requires CAT6-level authority and approval.
Student Surveys and Feedback
Surveys are conducted to collect student feedback on learning and teaching at Western. Both the Student Feedback on Subjects (SFS) and Student Feedback on Teachers (SFT) are run for every subject in every teaching session throughout the year. This equates to 36 teaching sessions and over 630,000 surveys annually. When the surveys open, students will receive emails containing their survey links. Student feedback is anonymous and is important to the University as it informs our institutional monitoring, review and improvement activities.
The SFS asks students to rate their subjects on the following aspects. Students are also asked to comment on the best aspects and areas in need of improvement.
- Learning materials
- Assessments
- Opportunities for collaboration
- Technology
- Help and advice
- Workload
- Critical and analytical skills
- Work-related skills
- Overall satisfaction
The results are accessible to Subject Coordinators, Deans, Deputy Deans and Directors of Academic Programs (DAPs), as well as several professional offices involved with quality assurance and improvement via the SFS Dashboard. Subject Coordinators are required to review their subjects every year, including SFS feedback, and critically reflect on required changes.
To ensure the SFT survey is released, Schools and Academics must ensure that teaching details are correct in Allocate+ prior to census.
Students are asked to evaluate their teachers on the following aspects. Students are also asked to comment on the various aspects of the staff member’s teaching and areas in need of improvement.
- Encouraging students to participate in learning activities
- Having an effective teaching style
- Being well-prepared
- Being approachable
- Creating a learning environment of fairness and respect
- Providing a variety of perspectives and evidence
- Providing feedback that supports learning
- Overall satisfaction
The results are accessible to the relevant staff member and Dean only via the SFT Dashboard.
For all Survey Queries, please complete the form in the following link Competitive Intelligence & Analytics Requests.
Response Rates for current survey sessions can be found via this link Response Rate Dashboard.
The Surveys Calendar can be viewed via this link: Surveys Calendar.
Data Engineering
Craig Szumowski (Principal Data Engineer, Views and Features)
C.Szumowski@westernsydney.edu.au
Data engineering refers to the process of taking data out of source systems such as Banner and the Data Warehouse and making the data suitable for use in reports and dashboards. We invite you to come chat with us about how we can leverage available university data to drive impactful projects and achieve shared goals.
These are spontaneous requests that vary in complexity. They can be simple like "How many students are in my program?" or complex that require combining data from multiple sources.
These are recurring requests that need regular updates such as data for school reviews, third-party reviews, and government reporting requirements.
We develop and update a variety of dashboards that track and display data throughout a student’s university lifecycle. We have dashboards that cover a student’s application to completion and everything in between.
Raw data from our systems often needs processing to be useful. We manage data sources that ensure data is error-checked, cleaned, and value is added for reporting and analysis. This work supports everything we do including our teams machine learning functions.
Student Experience & Marketing Analytics
Mark Dixon (Associate Director, Student Experience & Marketing Analytics)
M.Dixon@westernsydney.edu.au
Student Experience & Marketing Analytics (SEM Analytics) is a dedicated and dynamic team providing vital analytical support to Student Experience & Marketing.
- Measuring and reporting on the student experience and student voice, ensuring that the perspectives and feedback of our students are thoroughly understood and acted upon.
- Enabling targeted marketing campaigns and communications through audience segmentation, ensuring our outreach efforts are precisely aimed at the right student cohorts.
- Supporting Western Success in identifying students in need of advisor support, ensuring improved student experience and retention outcomes.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and website performance.
- Developing and analysing comprehensive student surveys to provide actionable insights that drive continuous improvement across all touch points of the student journey.
By leveraging our expertise in data engineering, data science, insights analysis, and web analytics, we help ensure that every decision is data-driven and aligned with the overarching goals of enhancing student acquisition, retention, engagement, and satisfaction.
We welcome you to come chat with us about any topical areas in Student Experience & Marketing. Let’s explore how we can collaborate to enhance our students’ experiences.
Tertiary Collection of Student Information (TCSI)
Terry Gozzard (Principal Data Engineer)
T.Gozzard@westernsydney.edu.au
The TCSI Team provides a Tertiary Collection of Student Information (TCSI) solution that streamlines real-time data reporting to the Federal Government, significantly enhancing data accuracy. This solution has been recognised by the Federal Government as sector leading. In collaboration with the government, the University hosted the inaugural NSW TCSI Symposium on 28 November 2023 at our Parramatta City Campus.
This event brought together stakeholders from the NSW higher education sector and the Department of Education to address the challenges of TCSI implementation. The symposium underscored the University’s commitment to fostering sector-wide collaboration and innovation, setting new benchmarks for data management and technical excellence in higher education.
The TCSI Team works closely with other university departments to automate processes, improve data accuracy, manage risks, and better meet TCSI requirements. Additionally, we continue to collaborate with other institutions to refine and optimise these processes.
The TCSI Errors Dashboard is our one-stop-shop solution for all TCSI errors from all internal and external sources. These error records are enhanced with value-add information that cuts down the number of manual steps required to correct them.
Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
Kirill Kozlov (Associate Director, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning)
K.Kozlov@westernsydney.edu.au
Our Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence (ML & AI) team specialises in predictive analytics and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to enhance various aspects of university operations.
- ATAR Adjustment ML Model
- Continuing Load ML Model
- Student Support Policy Risk Model
- Student Outcomes NLP Model
- Outer Years Load Forecasting
- Commencing Load at Census Model
- Offer-Based Forecasts (CGS, International, PG)
In addition to these models, our team conducts statistical analyses to support hypothesis testing and data-driven decision-making.
If you have a project or hypothesis and would like to discuss how our team can assist, we invite you to reach out to us. We’re here to help bring your ideas to life.
Portfolio Services
Colette Hughes (Manager, Competitive Intelligence and Analytics Portfolio Services)
C.Hughes@westernsydney.edu.au
The Portfolio Services area ensures the smooth running of the department and provides a number of different services:
- Facilitation of Student Feedback on Subjects and Student Feedback on Teacher surveys
- Data Collation, Submission and Results Analysis for 15 different rankings annually including THE, QS, ARWU and Impact Rankings
- Internal Project Management
- University-Wide Operational Planning
- Process Mapping
- Sustaining Success Reporting
- Triaging of Data Requests
- Smartsheet Development
If you have any queries or questions about the services we provide, please reach out to us.
Visualise Your Data With Actionable Insights
David Thompson (Visualisation Specialist)
D.Thompson@westernsydney.edu.au
Data visualisation is the process of converting complex data into visual formats like charts, graphs, and interactive web applications. This transformation makes it easier for stakeholders to understand trends, patterns, and insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and spot opportunities or issues that might be missed in raw data.
Effective data visualisation enhances communication, drives better business strategies, and improves overall efficiency by turning data into a valuable, actionable asset for the organisation.
Our visualisation services include:
Create comprehensive dashboards that offer real-time insights and facilitate data-driven decision-making.
Develop visually engaging infographics that simplify complex data into easily digestible information.
Produce detailed reports and charts that provide clear, concise, and actionable insights.
Empower your team with our expert visualisation services and transform your data into powerful business tools.
