1) Purpose

The heidi Advisory Group exists to:

• make recommendations to the HESA Board on the resources needed for the ongoing maintenance and development of heidi in light of input from the User Group and from HESA staff
• make recommendations to the HESA Board on the level of HE institutional subscriptions needed to provide those resources.
• advise the HESA Board on the current performance and ongoing development of the heidi service

2) Responsibilities

The Advisory Group will:

• Monitor the ongoing income (subscriptions) and costs (maintenance);
• Monitor the ongoing performance levels in the running of the heidi service;
• Provide strategic direction and guidance with regard to any significant changes in the operation of heidi;
• Make recommendations to the HESA Board on ongoing development of the subscription model for the provision, support and maintenance of the service (i.e. annual subscription setting);
• Review and sign-off the annual plan for new development;
• Review and sign-off each phase of new system or data development;
• Provide an annual report to the HESA Board on the development and operation of the heidi service
• Select members for the User Group from nominations received by HESA
• Champion the wider use of heidi at a senior level through the HE Sector.

Members of the Advisory Group will undertake the dual role of representing their HE institution/area of interest and having collective responsibility for overseeing operation of heidi and its further development.

3) Membership

The Advisory Group is made up of:

• Chief Executive, HESA (Chair)
• Director of Quality and Development, HESA
• Director of Information and Analysis, HESA
• A representative from the University of Leeds
• The Chair (or Chair’s nominee) of BUFDG
• The Chair of the User Group
• The Deputy Chair of the User Group
• A member nominated by the funding bodies

HESA will provide the secretariat for the Advisory Group.

4) Frequency

The Advisory Group will meet twice a year at HESA’s offices in Cheltenham, and on an ad-hoc basis if the need arises. Expenses for meeting attendance will be paid by HESA.

5) Reporting lines

The Advisory Group reports to the HESA Board through the HESA Chief Executive.

The User Group report to the Advisory Group.

6) Expiry date

The Advisory Group came into existence on 2 May 2007.

The Advisory Group will be in place up to 31 July 2012; subsequent governance and management arrangements will be decided during 2011/12 by the HESA Board, following a review conducted in consultation with the Advisory Group, and with input from the User Group..