Book now for ARC Network + save the dates for our annual That's Quality 2018 events! 05 Apr 2018
Currently open for bookings is our next ARC Network meeting on 9th May. Plus save the dates for our That's Quality! 2018 events - Universities on 17th/18th July and Colleges on 8th/9th August. . Register now... sparqs Academic Representation Co-ordinators' Network meeting~ Wednesday 9th May 2018 at University… Read More
sparqs 2018-19 Associate Trainer recruitment is open - deadline 12 noon on Tuesday 8th May 2018! 19 Mar 2018
Calling all course reps and apprentices! Do you have experience as a course rep and will be a student during 2018-19 ? Or...... Will you be an apprentice during 2018-19, or are you a recent graduate apprentice wishing to develop your core skills? ....if so, and 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
Consultation on the future of the UK Quality Code – open until Wednesday 13th December 2017 28 Nov 2017
The UK-wide Standing Committee for Quality Assessment (UKSCQA) which oversees the aspects of the quality arrangements which are shared across the UK, has recently launched a consultation to review the UK Quality Code. In 2012 the UK Quality Code was developed… Read More
Welcome to our new Development Consultant, Steph Kirkham 20 Nov 2017
We are delighted to welcome Steph Kirkham to the sparqs team! Steph joins us as a Development Consultant and will be with us for the coming year, providing maternity cover while both Stef Black and Hannah Clarke are on maternity leave. Huge… Read More
Interview with Rachael Page, Fife College 25 Oct 2017
In this interview we talk to Rachael Page, a Community Skills student at Fife College’s ASPIRE Centre (Additional Support Programmes In Real Environments). She is a strong advocate for students with disabilities, has been a course rep, and recently undertook… Read More
