Objective

This article outline the changes made to existing Paradigm screens to implement TCSI reporting.

Complexity: Expert

Page Contents

Introduction

A key requirement imposed on our TCSI integration was to ensure that Paradigm remained backwards compatible with the HEIMS reporting standard. This “dual reporting mode” ensures that providers could prepare for TCSI whilst still being able to generate valid HEPCAT flat files. Such a requirement is particularly pertinent to providers who operate a summer or trimester three intake as they will still be generating HEPCAT files into the first part of calendar year 2021.

Dual reporting mode is made more complex by the government’s decision to re-code specific HEIMS fields for TCSI reporting, without assigning that element a new element code. There were two potential solutions to this problem. The first was to store the element as two distinct fields within Paradigm, one for HEIMS and one for TCSI. The second option was to differentiate the options associated with a specific reporting element based on the loaded screen within Paradigm. The latter solution was chosen because it could be used as a basis for simplifying government reporting for users who will be introduced to it for the first time via TCSI.

The remainder of this article outlines the specific screens that have been impacted by the introduction of dual reporting mode, including where government reporting fields have been entirely removed from a screen. The article is grouped under headings based on the type of record.

Student

Student Details Edit screen (student_edit.php) Fields removed

• The section previously labelled “Edit HEIMS Details” has been entirely removed

• The section labelled “Edit HEIMS” remains as this pertains to CHESSN generation and validation

Course Enrolment Details screen - (student_program.php) Fields removed

• The section previously labelled “HEIMS Information” has been entirely removed

Student HEIMS Edit (student_heims_edit.php) UPDATED

• Inherited HEIMS specific fields formerly found on the Student Details Edit screen

• Inherited HEIMS specific fields formerly found on the Student Course Enrolment Details screen

• HEIMS fields must be completed on this screen for ALL students with a unit enrolment census date in 2020 that will be reported via HEPCAT

Student TCSI Edit (student_tcsi_edit.php) NEW

This is a new screen that functions as a single place to maintain all TCSI reporting fields for a specific student, essentially making it the TCSI equivalent to the Student HEIMS Edit screen. This screen now encompasses the following data groups:

• Student Group

  • Student Disability

  • Student Citizenship

  • Student Commonwealth Scholarship

• Course Admissions Group

  • Course Basis for admission

  • Course prior credit

  • Course Specialisation

  • Course HDR End-user engagement

  • Course Scholarship

  • Course RTP Stipend

Base Course

Course Edit Details screen (program_edit.php) Fields removed UPDATED

This screen now encompasses the following data groups through the addition of multiple new sections:

• Courses of Study (section labelled “TCSI COURSE OF STUDY”)

• Courses group

  • Course fields of education (section labelled “FIELD OF EDUCATION”)

  • Special interest course extension (section labelled “SPECIAL COURSE TYPE”)

• Courses on Campus (section labelled “CAMPUS WHERE COURSE IS TAUGHT”)

The TCSI changes required removing the historical HEIMS fields:

• The section previously labelled “HEIMS FIELDS” has been entirely removed

• The section previously labelled “CAMPUS WHERE COURSE IS TAUGHT” has been entirely removed

Program HEIMS Edit (program_heims_edit.php) NEW

This screen was added solely as a way of interacting with the HEIMS fields of the base course record. At some future point this screen will be entirely retired at the end of 2021, once HEPCAT reporting is no longer supported by the government.

• Contains base course HEIMS fields

• Contains section “Campus where cause is taught” that is used to generate the HEPCAT CM flat file