sparqs : Driving student engagement
Welcome to sparqs : To introduce ourselves very briefly, sparqs is a service funded by the Scottish Funding Council to assist and support students, students' associations and institutions to improve the effectiveness and engagement in quality assurance and enhancement in institutions across Scotland. For more information about our service and Governance, have a look at the 'About Us' section.
We are currently recruiting a Project Co-ordinator for a joint project with NUS Scotland and sparqs! Click here for more information and to apply
Our 2011 Annual Report has now been published Click here to view
Supporting College Student Governors
The workbook from this year's residential event, held on 29-30 October in Dundee, is available here:
Enhancement Themes Student Network
We will be holding an event on the 24th May for the student team member of institutions' Enhancement Themes team.
Click here for more information on this event
Click here for more information and for materials from the previous workshop
Getting Ready for Your College Review
This day long event for student officers and students' association staff for their college review was held on 27 September in Dundee. It focused on the workings of the review and how to effectively engage learners throughout the process.
Click here for more information on the event
Recognising and Accrediting the Work of Course Reps Using HEAR
sparqs will be holding an event (date to be confirmed) aimed at Quality and Registry staff, students' association staff and student officers responsible for education. The event will explore the Higher Education Achievement Record and how it can enhance a course reps' experience.
Click here for more information or to register for this event
For details of any upcoming events, please visit our Events page.
QUEST for Quality by Students
sparqs is involved in a consortium led by ESU (European Students' Union) which is looking at creating a students' concept of the quality of higher education. The project will involved the ESU Quality Assurance Experts' Pool who will look at different quality mechanisms across Europe.
In April 2012, sparqs hosted the 3rd Management Meeting for the European students' Union's QUEST For Quality project in Edinburgh.
Click here for more information on the project
Resource Library
sparqs is developing a Library to contain examples of Peer Practice to assist other institutions in developing effective student engagement practices.
Click here to contribute your practices or for more information
Developing Themes
sparqs provides customised, one-to-one support, advice and training to institutions and students' associations through its Consultancy. Through this work, strong themes continue to emerge where ongoing support can be provided in all areas of the engagement of learners.
Click here to visit the consultancy pages
Departmental Representation
In conjunction with other practitioners, sparqs have recently developed a departmental representation toolkit. The tookit aims to develop effective student engagement at the departmental level.
