Our new Professional Standards Framework for Student Engagement 22 Jun 2022
sparqs is delighted to announce an important new document that will help articulate the value and impact of student engagement staff posts. Our new Professional standards framework for student engagement is the first such publication to offer a definition of… Read More
Our new Strategic Conversations resource! 25 May 2022
As part of the Developing College Students' Associations (DCSA) project, delivered jointly with NUS Charity, sparqs has designed a Methodology for Strategic Conversations, to encourage institutions and students' associations to carry out a structured strategic conversation when in the process… Read More
Interview with Lianne Gagnon, Niagara College, Canada 25 May 2022
In this interview, we talk to Lianne Gagnon, Director of Student Services at Niagara College, in Ontario, Canada. Lianne has been in the field of education for over 30 years. She taught remedial English and Special Education on the traditional… Read More
Our That's Quality! 2022 events... still time to register for TQU! 04 May 2022
Part 1 of That's Quality! Colleges has now taken place, but there's still time to register for That's Quality! Universities. The 2022 events are split into three parts and delegates are required to complete all three elements. The first part is… Read More
Interview with Jodie McNair, Glasgow Clyde College Students’ Association 28 Apr 2022
In this interview, we talk to Jodie McNair, Development Officer at Glasgow Clyde College Students’ Association (GCCSA), where she has worked for almost five years. Her first role in the sector was Sports and Societies Intern for Glasgow Caledonian Students’… Read More
Our AT recruitment has now closed 27 Apr 2022
sparqs 2022-23 Associate Trainer recruitment has now closed, as of 9.00am on Wednesday 4th May 2022 While recruitment has now closed, the information regarding the posts will remain visible for reference until the recruitment process is complete. .Calling all student reps! Do you have experience… Read More
Save the dates for our 2022 That’s Quality! events 26 Apr 2022
We are pleased to announce the confirmed dates for our annual induction events for student officers and students’ association staff. To retain the benefits of both online and in-person delivery, the 2022 event will be split into three parts. The first… Read More
Interview with Anne Campbell, Ayrshire College 24 Mar 2022
In this interview, we talk to Anne Campbell, Vice-Principal (Curriculum) at Ayrshire College. She has worked in the college sector for over 20 years and has occupied various learning and teaching positions throughout her career. Before joining Ayrshire College, Anne… Read More
Call for case studies... Equity of the Student Learning Experience - DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL 27TH APRIL!! 23 Mar 2022
As part of the current Enhancement Theme – ‘Resilient Learning Communities’ - sparqs and QAA Scotland are working collaboratively to facilitate the delivery of the Student Led Project (SLP). The SLP engages student officers from across the sector to input… Read More
Still time to book for NEON on 7th April.... 01 Mar 2022
Bookings are still open for the next meeting of our National Education Officers' Network (NEON). See below to register to attend and to keep yourself in the loop via the Jiscmail group. In the coming period, the network will be utilised… Read More
Interview with Sofia Khan, University of Strathclyde Students’ Association 23 Feb 2022
In this interview, we talk to Sofia Khan, Access and Participation Coordinator at University of Strathclyde Students’ Association. She has been in her current post since January 2020, in which she delivers the students’ association’s support to a range of… Read More
sparqs' Coronavirus (COVID-19) information hub 26 Jan 2022
During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, our dedicated hub has provided information about sparqs' refocused work plans, our forthcoming online events and support, as well as signposts to other relevant comms and resources which we feel may be of use to sector… Read More
Interview with Charlotte Britton-Stevens, NUS Charity 25 Jan 2022
In this interview, we talk to Charlotte Britton-Stevens, Union Development Project Manager at NUS Charity. She has held many roles within NUS and the wider student movement, and was a student officer at Swansea University. Currently, she leads the SFC-funded… Read More
Happy New Year from the sparqs' team! 10 Jan 2022
Happy new year from the sparqs team! We look forward to working with you all again during 2022, which will hopefully be a kinder year for us all, as the sector continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic.… Read More
Interview with Sandra McLoughlan, New College Lanarkshire 16 Dec 2021
In this interview, we talk to Sandra McLoughlan, Dean for Student Recruitment and Experience at New College Lanarkshire. Sandra was recently appointed to this post, having worked in European funding, student guidance and then latterly recruitment and admissions. 1. Firstly, how… Read More
Interview with Sam Smith, New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) 12 Oct 2021
In this interview, we talk to Sam Smith, former National Vice President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), who recently led a project for New Zealand’s higher education quality body, the Academic Quality Agency (AQA). Sam graduated… Read More
sparqs' 2021-22 Course Rep Training is open for bookings! 11 Oct 2021
If you've not already got your sessions arranged, bookings are open for institutions to request sparqs' 2021-22 Course Rep Training. As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this year's training is continuing in an online format, and is again in… Read More
Interview with Megan Doherty, University of Dundee graduate and former DUSA officer 31 Aug 2021
In this interview, we talk to Megan Doherty, former Student Voice Support Officer at Dundee University Students’ Association and graduate of Politics and International Relations at the University of Dundee. She has been involved in Y7, the official youth engagement… Read More
Student Engagement Awards and Celebrating Success Report 2021 03 Jul 2021
Congratulations to all of our Student Engagement Award-winners and thanks to everyone who joined us on 22nd June for the Awards ceremony, which also included the launch of our report celebrating successful partnerships across the sector during 2020-21! The report… Read More
Interview with Heloisa Fyfe, Edinburgh Napier Students' Association 02 Jul 2021
In this interview, we talk to Heloisa Fyfe, Vice-President (Representation and Volunteers) at Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA). Previously, she was a Festival and Event Management student and a Programme Rep at Edinburgh Napier University. 1. Can you tell us about… Read More
