Book now for 3 events and 'save the date' for future events, including sparqs' 2019 Conference! 13 Jun 2018
Currently open for bookings are our introductory rollout event on Monitoring Diversity of Course Reps on 26th June 2018, plus our annual That's Quality! 2018 events - Universities on 17th/18th July and Colleges on 8th/9th August. In addition, save the date for the sparqs Conference… Read More
sparqs' Privacy Policy has been updated 25 May 2018
Please note that the sparqs Privacy Policy has been updated in line with the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) now in force within Europe, as of 25th May 2018. We would encourage anyone who uses our services to read this updated policy,… Read More
Interview with Meera Sabaratnam, SOAS University of London 24 May 2018
In this interview, we talk to Dr Meera Sabaratnam, lecturer and BA Programme Convenor in International Relations at SOAS University of London. She has a strong research interest in colonial and post-colonial relations, statebuilding and development, and has been undertaking… Read More
Interview with Matt Adie, University of Stirling Students' Union 26 Apr 2018
In this interview, we talk to Matt Adie, Vice-President (Education) at the University of Stirling Students’ Union and Student Theme Lead for the current QAA Enhancement Theme “Evidence for Enhancement: Improving the Student Experience”. Matt is currently in his final… Read More
sparqs 2018-19 Associate Trainer recruitment is now closed 19 Mar 2018
As of 12noon on Monday 8th May 2018, our current recruitment campaign for Associate Trainers is now closed. The recruitment pages are still currently available for reference only, until the recruitment process is complete. Calling all course reps and apprentices! Do you… Read More
Interview with Stewart Squire, Dundee University Students' Association 18 Mar 2018
In this interview, we talk to Stewart Squire, Democratic Support & Policy Co-ordinator at Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA). Stewart’s role involves a range of support for student engagement, and he previously worked at the Abertay University Students’ Association as… Read More
sparqs ARC Network - May 2018 meeting is open for bookings! 17 Mar 2018
Registration is now open for our next Academic Representation Co-ordinators’ network meeting, taking place on Wednesday 9th May 2018 at University of Stirling Students' Union. Our third and final meeting of the 2017-18 academic year has a packed and exciting agenda, with two sessions on course reps… Read More
sparqs HGIOC event: Influencing the college quality arrangements - 19th April 2018 17 Mar 2018
We are pleased to announce that, in response to requests from college officers, sparqs is holding a How good is our college? event on Thursday 19th April 2018 at the sparqs/NUS offices in Edinburgh. The event will help inform officers… Read More
Interview with Kerry Harrison, Robert Gordon University Students' Union 27 Feb 2018
In this interview, we talk to Kerry Harrison, President (Education and Welfare) of Robert Gordon University Students’ Union. Previously she studied Management with HR and got involved with the union through the Mental Wellbeing Society. 1. You’re coming to the end… Read More
Sign up for QAA Scotland's Focus On Feedback from Assessment event: 22nd March 2018 in Glasgow 26 Feb 2018
.Registration is open for QAA Scotland's Focus On: Feedback from Assessment event on Thursday 22nd March 2018 at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow. The event will showcase work undertaken in support of the nation-wide Focus On project and will explore the following topics: Institutional approaches… Read More
sparqs Strategic Planning – looking ahead to 2021... 15 Feb 2018
sparqs Trustee Board is pleased to announce the start of a planning process to develop a strategic plan to guide our work until 2021. Since the launch of its last plan in 2013 sparqs has made great strides in promoting… Read More
College officers and course reps - help shape the Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges! 02 Feb 2018
sparqs is running 2 workshops to enable college student officers and course reps to contribute to CDN’s current review of the existing Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges. The events are taking place on Tuesday 27th February in Edinburgh and Tuesday 6th March… Read More
Interview with Cathy Bovill, The University of Edinburgh 23 Jan 2018
In this interview, we talk to Cathy Bovill, Senior Lecturer in Student Engagement at The University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Academic Development. Previously she worked at the University of Glasgow for nine years. 1. Can you start off by telling us… Read More
QAA are recruiting ELIR4 student reviewers - deadline 6th Feb! 23 Jan 2018
QAA Scotland are currently seeking student reviewers for the ELIR 4 review cycle. ELIR has a strong emphasis on the student learning experience, and student reviewers play an important role as review team members. Student reviewers are expected to have… Read More
Pledge to take part in the NUS Sustainable Development Goals teach-in during week beginning 19th February! 22 Jan 2018
The NUS Sustainability Department are asking educators across UK universities and colleges to pledge to include the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their teaching, learning, and assessment during the week of 19th to 23rd February 2018. The SDGs are a set… Read More
Join QAA's Twitter chat on university feedback on 1st Feb! 22 Jan 2018
... What do you think about the feedback you receive at university? @QAAScotland is hosting a twitter chat on 1st February to hear your views on what makes feedback helpful or unhelpful. This will inform the nation-wide Feedback from Assessment 'Focus On' project and… Read More
ARC Network meeting on 20th February is open for bookings! 18 Jan 2018
Registration is still open for our next Academic Representation Co-ordinators’ network meeting, taking place on Tuesday 20th February 2018 at Dundee University Students' Association. The meeting will include substantial sessions on key developments in the two sectors (HGIOC for colleges and ELIR for universities), including involvement of the… Read More
15th Enhancement Themes Conference - 7th June 2018 17 Jan 2018
Save the date for QAA Scotland's 15th Enhancement Conference - Evaluation, Evidence and Enhancement: inspiring staff and students. The conference is taking place on Thursday 7th June 2018, at Glasgow Caledonian University. The conference will showcase activity around the latest Enhancement Theme… Read More
Happy New Year from the sparqs team! 08 Jan 2018
We're looking forward to a busy 2018, and look forward to working with all our colleagues across the sector and beyond during the coming year. Our first batch of news articles is due out later this week, so watch this space, and… Read More
Interview with Josh Gall, North East Scotland College Students' Association 29 Nov 2017
In this interview, we talk to Josh Gall, Regional President of the Students’ Association at North East Scotland College. He is in his second sabbatical year, having served a year as Depute President. Previously he studied Social Sciences at the… Read More
