New Buddy Scheme intake - sign up by 21st February! 04 Feb 2025
We are pleased to announce a further opportunity to join the Buddy Scheme, to be paired with a buddy for the remainder of this academic year! Aimed at student engagement practitioners working in students' associations and institutions across Scotland, by… Read More
New Year round-up and sparqs' team news! 06 Jan 2025
Happy New Year from all at sparqs! We wish everyone across the sector a happy and healthy 2025 and look forward to working with you all in the coming year. Our first news articles of 2025 have now been published, including… Read More
Launch of sparqs’ new SEAP Guidance 17 Oct 2024
We are delighted to announce the publication of our SEAP Guidance for students’ associations and student officers, designed to support meaningful student engagement throughout the SEAP (Self-Evaluation and Action Plan) process. The guidance includes an overview of the SEAP process; some… Read More
Scotland's Ambition for Student Partnership... our new resource! 07 Oct 2024
We are delighted to share our new resource, Scotland’s Ambition for Student Partnership, and its accompanying features and indicators. Commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), it builds on sparqs’ previous work supporting the sector to explore partnership and helps… Read More
sparqs 2024-25 Course Rep Training is still open to book 06 Oct 2024
Bookings are still open for Course Rep Training during 2024-25. All the information you need is on our main CRT webpage. Please read the booking guidance before arranging your sessions and requesting dates. CRT delivered by sparqs This year's Introductory CRT is… Read More
Our 2024-25 NEON programme begins on 10th December! 01 Oct 2024
sparqs is excited to announce the first of the National Education Officers Network (NEON) meetings for 2024-25, which will take place on Tuesday 10th December 2024, on Zoom, from 11.00am to 12.30pm. See the event booking page to sign up and save… Read More
Register now for November's SESN meeting! 12 Sep 2024
Our November meeting of the Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) is now open for bookings and you can also save the date for the February date, as noted below. Thursday 28th November 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm - see the event booking… Read More
Sign up for sparqs' Buddy Scheme by 18th October! 11 Sep 2024
The Buddy Scheme is back for a third year! Aimed at student engagement practitioners working in students' associations and institutions across Scotland, by signing up to the scheme, you are paired with a buddy, to give you the opportunity to… Read More
sparqs' 2024-25 Course Rep Training is open to book! 28 Aug 2024
Bookings are now open for Course Rep Training during 2024-25 ....for delivery from week beginning Monday 23rd September 2024 onwards. All the information you need is on our main CRT webpage. Please read the booking guidance before arranging your sessions and… Read More
Our Development Consultant! recruitment has now closed 19 Aug 2024
Our recruitment for a Development Consultant has now closed, as of 9.00am on Monday 16th September 2024. The details of the vacancy will remain available on the website until the recruitment process is complete. sparqs is a charity funded by the Scottish… Read More
Interview with Professor Alastair Robertson, Glasgow Caledonian University 15 Apr 2024
In this interview, we talk to Professor Alastair Robertson, Director of the Graduate School at Glasgow Caledonian University. He was until recently Pro Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at GCU and has 30 years’ experience working in the HE… Read More
That's Quality! 2024 14 Apr 2024
Thanks to everyone who attended our annual That's Quality! programme for student officers and students’ association staff. The materials from the residential event have now been uploaded on the event pages and a round-up from the event will follow in… Read More
Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF) briefing webpage for students, officers and SA staff 12 Apr 2024
sparqs has been working closely with the Scottish Funding Council on the Tertiary Quality Project and the co-creation of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF), which is the new approach to quality assurance and enhancement for Scotland’s colleges and universities. To… Read More
Recruitment for 2024-25 Associate Trainers has now closed 05 Apr 2024
sparqs' 2024-25 Associate Trainer recruitment has now closed, as of 9.00am, Monday 27th May 2024! The recruitment pages will remain available until the recruitment process is complete. Calling all student reps! Do you have experience as a course/apprentice or other representative role? Will you be… Read More
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 defining 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 and… Read More
Interview with Ellie Garraway and Jon Down, Grit: Breakthrough Programmes 25 Jan 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… Read More
Update on quality arrangements for colleges 2023-24 17 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
Interview with Megan McClellan, formerly City of Glasgow College Students’ Association 28 Nov 2023
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
Creating and reviewing student engagement roles: launching our new resource! 03 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… Read More
Interview with Libby Gill, Robert Gordon University 31 Oct 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