sparqs' News

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

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

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

New year round-up and team news! 12 Jan 2024

Happy new year from the sparqs team! We hope 2024 has started well for everyone and look forward to working with you all again during the coming year! 2023 was a busy year for us, following our usual hectic summer training… Read More

Update on quality arrangements for colleges 2023-24 12 Jan 2024

While the sector continues to work on a joint approach to quality for colleges and universities, for the current academic year (2023-24) quality arrangements continue to be separate. sparqs has been supporting institutions and students’ associations through these changes, ensuring students… Read More

Next SESN meetings... 13th Feb & 19th March 2024 12 Jan 2024

Registrations are now open for the following two Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) meetings: Tuesday 13th February 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. Tuesday 19th March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and… Read More

Next NEON meetings on 15th February and 21st March 2024 12 Jan 2024

Registrations are now open for the following two National Education Officers Network (NEON) meetings: Thursday 15th February 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. Thursday 21st March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and… Read More

'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Megan McClellan 12 Jan 2024

In this interview, we talk to Megan McClellan, former President and Vice-President (Learning and Teaching) at City of Glasgow College Students’ Association. Since the summer of 2023, following her sabbatical terms, Megan has been Policy and Public Affairs Officer for… Read More

sparqs' team news! 15 Nov 2023

After 16 years with sparqs, we are very sorry that we will soon be losing one of our long-standing team members, Simon Varwell, as he leaves to take up an exciting new role with UHI’s students’ association, HISA. Simon is… Read More

A celebration of #sparqs20years 15 Nov 2023

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 20th birthday celebration event on the evening of Thursday 5th October 2023 ~ #sparqs20years The event reflected on and celebrated the progress Scotland has made over the last 20 years in student… Read More

Congratulations to our 2023 Student Engagement Award-winners! 15 Nov 2023

Congratulations to all of our Student Engagement Award-winners and thanks to everyone who joined us on Thursday 5th October 2023 for the Awards ceremony, which took place at our 20th birthday celebration event! #sparqs20years The Awards ceremony was superbly hosted by Sir Andrew Cubie,… Read More

Launch of the new Student Learning Experience model 15 Nov 2023

Launched at the sparqs' 20th birthday event on Thursday 5th October 2023, we are delighted to share our new Student Learning Experience model, developed as part of the single tertiary approach to quality for colleges and universities. The new model seeks… Read More

Creating and reviewing student engagement roles: launching our new resource! 15 Nov 2023

sparqs is pleased to publish a new resource, Creating and reviewing student engagement roles, to accompany the Professional Standards Framework for Student Engagement (PSFSE). The new resource is designed to support those seeking to create and review posts relating to student engagement in… Read More

Reminder re our next SESN and NEON network meetings 15 Nov 2023

A reminder about our next SESN and NEON meetings coming up soon..... SESN (Student Engagement Staff Network) The next meeting is taking place on Wednesday 29th November 2023, from 10.00am to 1.00pm via Zoom. See the event booking page to register to attend. The agenda will follow… Read More

'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Erica Russell-Hensens 15 Nov 2023

In this interview, we talk to Erica Russell-Hensens, Deputy Director for Student Interests, Access and Pathways at the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). After a sabbatical term of office at (what became) Queen Margaret University, Erica worked for two years at… Read More

'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Libby Gill 15 Nov 2023

In this interview, we talk to Libby Gill, Student Partnership Development Officer at Robert Gordon University (RGU). They began this post in April 2023, following a range of roles in heritage and education, including as an English language teacher. A… Read More

sparqs' team news! 21 Sep 2023

As many of you may know, Stef Black has been seconded from sparqs to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for the past year, in the role of Senior Policy Officer. Stef has recently made the decision to continue in her… Read More

Return of the Buddy Scheme! 21 Sep 2023

Following the successful pilot of sparqs’ Buddy Scheme, which ran from January to June 2023 (you can read more about it in our June article), we are happy to announce the opening of the Buddy Scheme for 2023-24. As a… Read More

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Student Engagement Framework

National Education Officers' Network meeting

21 Mar 2024

This meeting of sparqs’ National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) continues our series of meetings for academic year 2023-24. …

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Student Engagement Staff Network meeting

19 Mar 2024

This meeting of our Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) for academic year 2023-24 continues our series of half-day events for…

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