Work is underway to design a joint quality framework for colleges and universities, as recommended by the SFC Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability published in June 2021. In the meantime, quality arrangements in colleges and universities must continue and sparqs has been delivering targeted individual support to students’ associations in colleges to help them navigate through this time of change.
In addition to the informative sessions delivered at our SESN and NEON meetings in November, sparqs has offered support to each students' association to prepare for the Progress Visits, organised by Education Scotland between November 2021 and March 2022. The visits are tailored to each institution. However, the starting point for the conversations are based on the Toolkit for Effective Learner Engagement, developed by sparqs and Education Scotland in 2021.
Feedback from students’ associations that have already hosted the Progress Visit is very positive, commenting on the Visit Team’s ability to create an informal atmosphere, conducive to honest conversations, allowing students and staff to voice their opinions about the quality of learning and teaching in their institution.
We encourage students’ associations and quality teams to work together prior to their Progress Visit in preparation meetings, consider the Toolkit questions, and develop a partnership approach to the process. If any students’ associations are not aware of the date of their Progress Visit, they should contact their quality team.
For more details on sparqs’ support, please get in touch with Gloria Laurini, Development Consultant - gloria.laurini@sparqs.ac.uk.
