eMandate Reporting Tool – User Guide
The eMandate user guide is a comprehensive guide on how to use the web-based reporting tool. Here you will find guidance on all aspects of the reporting tool ranging from the executive summary and comparative analysis screens to the creation of benchmark peer groups. You will also find a list of frequently asked questions which can be used to aid your understanding of the service allowing you to access the full potential of the eMandate database.
To download the current version of the User Guide click here

eMandate Support Services
In addition to the web-based reporting tool, IPD also provide a number of other support services for eMandate, estates and facilities management.
For further details and to download the current version of the Support Services brochure click here

Problems with the data collection template
Quite a few colleges reported experiencing problems while using the data collection template in 2008. The most common problem related to the local macros settings, which need to be set to Medium or Low in order to activate the validation checks and link the basic and advanced input tabs and copy data between the different tabs on the spreadsheet. If this happens to you, the eMandate helpdesk staff can talk you through how to resolve it in a matter of seconds.

To download the current version of the Definition FAQ click here

Some frequently asked questions…

What is eMandate?
eMandate is the Estate Management Data Exchange for the UK Further Education sector. eMandate is a unique information resource set in place to provide the sector and all colleges with access to independent, sector wide estates performance data. The resource facilitates sharing of key estates information and understanding practice across the sector and the system is reliant on college participation - the value of the resource increases as each new college participates. The service was developed in 2001 and during 2005 around 200 colleges became involved. To build on the success and value of previous years, the service was extended to all UK colleges during 2006.

Which UK colleges already use eMandate?
Over 93% of all colleges in England, Scotland and Wales participated in eMandate in 2006. IPD hope to improve both the number of participants and the quality of data in 2007.

Why should our college participate in eMandate?
There are proven benefits of participation, not least in the access to outputs later in the process. eMandate information will help develop your own internal estate management information, help raise the profile of the estate at your college as well as help identify and support change and improvement in the estate. In order to ensure all colleges join the next phase, participation in eMandate is being made a mandatory condition for receiving capital grant from the LSC. The Scottish and Welsh funding bodies will announce their own arrangements, but it is expected that all colleges will participate.

What will our college get out of participation?
Each participating college will gain access to a secure online application where results for their own college estate can be presented alongside nominated results and performance data for peer colleges. The information collated and made available through eMandate will help college managers to understand, compare, change and support their strategic estate plan.

Who will see my college data?
The information provided will be made available to all participating colleges. Transparency in the information ensures maximal value, sharing best practice solutions and ultimately ensures long term developments in the reliability and value of the data at college and sector level. Individual college data will not be shared outside the sector and not be accessible to consultants.

What will the Funding Councils do with this data?
The UK Funding Councils have endorsed and funded eMandate to provide colleges with access to better information. eMandate will not be used to focus on colleges facing estates problems – rather the data will be used by Councils to communicate more objectively at a sector level to government, helping to secure funding and illustrate progress. A similar system has been operating in the Higher Education sector since 1999 – the resource has provided an effective tool for Funding Councils to communicate in clear messages to government but most importantly for universities to help promote and justify change.

Will our college need to pay?
The eMandate service is a joint initiative funded by the Learning and Skills Council, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and Welsh Funding Council. The only cost to your college will be your time required to assemble the data. Phase 3 of the service in 2005 indicated that the time required can take between one and seven days. The better managed your data the easier the task! The time taken to assemble data is not a function of college size.

What does our college need to do?
Your college needs to raise awareness of this service to your estates and resources personnel and get involved! As stressed, we do not expect every college to have access internally to every data item. Provide the data which you do have! You will be required to enter key estates cost, space and utilisation data into our standard eMandate template. When you have assembled that data which is available simply return the sheet, via e-mail, to emandate@ipdglobal.com.

What data do we need to provide?
The data request seeks to assemble information in a standardised way about your estate. Data is required at “estate level” and we do not require any building specific data, although some of the data may have been built up from building specific sources. The data requested represents, in the main, core estates information – data which colleges will record as part of day-to-day management – and will include information on property running costs, space use and profiles of the buildings, learner data, valuation and building condition data.

We did not find assembling data during the summer to be easy at our college. Can we progress with data assembly sooner?
In 2007 the data collection window will start earlier – in either March or April - and the deadline for submission will fall before the summer break. We anticipate that this will make data collection and assembly much easier for most colleges.

WORKSHOP EVENTS

The workshop dates and venues will appear below at a later date.