Using Raiser's Edge as the data source for HESA Graduate Outcomes C17071

Grant Quick

In our organisation we are planning on using Raiser's Edge as the data source for the Graduate Outcomes submissions. HESA require that the data is submitted as an XML as per the schema defined here: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/collection/c17071

Since RE cannot be configured to output the data to match a custom schema, I’ve begun work on a PowerShell script that will generate XML in the correct schema using data exported from RE queries.

The script requires half a dozen simple queries to be created in RE, exported as CSVs, and will translate those CSVs into the C17071 schema. During the conversion, it will apply (some of) the rules specified by the schema (character length, invalid character check etc) and notify the user of any data that will fail the HESA submission.

There will still be some manual interaction required, as it’s unlikely that the data stored in RE will exactly meet the requirements of the C17071 without some manipulation (for example removing redundant characters from phone numbers), but the script will go some way to identifying those issues and give the user the chance to continue to generate the XML.

The script works as is (i.e. it generates correct XML), but further development will be necessary in order to incorporate international telephone numbers.

If anyone would find this useful or is interested in testing the script, you can download the code and view a detailed readme via the GitHub repository here: https://github.com/GrantQuick/RE-HESA

Cheers,

Grant

Grant Quick

For info, this script now handles the processing of international phone numbers and is pretty much good-to-go with respect to generating the XML we need to submit to HESA.