Book now for our That's Quality! 2024 event! 08 May 2024
We are pleased to announce that our annual That's Quality! programme for student officers and students’ association staff is now open for bookings! The 2024 event is split into three parts: The first part of That’s Quality! is a half-day, sector-specific online… Read More
Some prompts for planning for the year ahead! 08 May 2024
A few prompts and reminders which might be helpful to students' associations and institutions around this time of year, some of which we’ve already flagged in recent articles…. Course Rep Training planning As noted in our April news article about CRT planning,… Read More
sparqs' online and blended learning reflective questions resource 08 May 2024
sparqs is pleased to launch a new online and blended learning reflective questions resource, developed as part of the Tertiary Enhancement Topic project. Based on the recently re-designed Student Learning Experience model, it consists of a set of reflective questions… Read More
Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF) briefing webpage for students, officers and SA staff 08 May 2024
sparqs has been working closely with the Scottish Funding Council on the Tertiary Quality Project and the co-creation of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF), which is the new approach to quality assurance and enhancement for Scotland’s colleges and universities. To provide… Read More
We are still recruiting student Associate Trainers for 2024-25 08 May 2024
sparqs' 2024-25 Associate Trainer recruitment is still open for applications - the deadline has been extended until 9.00am, Monday 27th May 2024! Calling all student reps! Do you have experience as a course/apprentice or other representative role? Will you be a student or apprentice… Read More
QAA consultation on UK Quality Code - deadline 17th May! 08 May 2024
QAA has launched a formal consultation on the proposed 2024 edition of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education. The consultation is open until 17th May 2024 and offers the last opportunity for colleagues across the UK to shape the… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON... The OU's Virtual Internship Project 08 May 2024
This ‘SPOTLIGHT ON’ features The Open University (OU) in Scotland and its innovative "Virtual Internships for Underrepresented Students" project, which has been recognised for its commitment to inclusivity, winning a sparqs’ Student Engagement Award in the "Diverse Voices" category in… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Professor Alastair Robertson 08 May 2024
In this interview, we talk to Professor Alastair Robertson, Director of the Graduate School at Glasgow Caledonian University. He was until recently Pro Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at GCU and has 30 years’ experience working in the HE… Read More
Memorial concert for Professor Norman Sharp 08 May 2024
Following the sad passing of Professor Norman Sharp last year, Norman’s family have asked us to share details of a memorial concert taking place on Saturday 25th May. Please feel free to share with sector colleagues who worked with and… Read More
sparqs is recruiting student Associate Trainers for 2024-25 05 Apr 2024
sparqs' 2024-25 Associate Trainer recruitment is open for applications - deadline extended to 9.00am, Monday 27th May 2024! Calling all student reps! Do you have experience as a course/apprentice or other representative role? Will you be a student or apprentice during 2024-25? ....if so,… Read More
Planning for the year ahead: a combined meeting of JAG, NEON and SESN 05 Apr 2024
Following previous successful combined events, sparqs’ three stakeholder forums will gather again in May for a joint meeting to explore sparqs' future work. On Wednesday 8th May 2024 sparqs’ Joint Advisory Group (JAG), National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) and Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) and members of our… Read More
Save the dates for our 2024 That’s Quality! event 05 Apr 2024
We are pleased to announce the confirmed dates for our 2024 annual induction event for student officers and students’ association staff, That’s Quality! The event will once again be split into three parts: The first part of That’s Quality! is a half-day,… Read More
Have your say: Suggest tertiary sector enhancement topics for the coming academic year 05 Apr 2024
QAA Scotland, Education Scotland, College Development Network and sparqs are working together to design a programme of improvement and enhancement activity for Scotland's tertiary education sector. We are doing this to support the work to develop Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement… Read More
Course Rep Training – your plans for 2024-25 05 Apr 2024
This article is a prompt for Course Rep Training Organisers (Representation Co-ordinators and those with similar remits in colleges and universities across Scotland) to consider your plans for delivering Course Rep Training (CRT) during 2024-25, if you haven’t already done… Read More
Updated resources for Induction and Outduction of education officers 05 Apr 2024
As the turn of the academic year approaches, it’s a good time for students' associations to start thinking about plans for inducting their 2024-25 education officer(s), as well as the ‘outduction’ of those 2023-24 officer(s) about to finish their term.… Read More
sparqs' Tertiary Quality Student Expert Group 29 Feb 2024
As the sector continues to work towards developing a single tertiary approach to quality for colleges and universities, sparqs has established a Tertiary Quality Student Expert Group (TQSEG). The rationale in setting up this group was to provide a joined-up… Read More
Next SESN meeting... 19th March 2024 29 Feb 2024
A reminder that registrations are open for the next Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) meeting: Tuesday 19th March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. The meeting will take place via Zoom, from 10.00am to 1.00pm. The agenda… Read More
Understanding the art of blending - publication of a new report! 29 Feb 2024
We are pleased to announce the publication of a pioneering report on designing and delivering an effective and inclusive digital/blended learning offering in Scotland’s colleges and universities, the result of a joint ‘Tertiary Enhancement Topic’ project, instigated by the SFC… Read More
Next NEON meeting on 21st March 2024 29 Feb 2024
A reminder that registrations are open for the next National Education Officers Network (NEON) meeting: Thursday 21st March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. The meeting will take place on Zoom, from 10.00am to 1.00pm. The agenda… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Grit 29 Feb 2024
In this interview, we talk to Ellie Garraway and Jon Down, CEO and Director of Development respectively, at Grit: Breakthrough Programmes, a UK charity working across many levels of education to promote belonging, ownership and engagement in learning. Ellie has worked at… Read More
