sparqs is running a series of workshops across Scotland to understand what a good Student Learning Experience means for students currently studying across the country’s colleges and universities.
sparqs has been commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the funding body for colleges and universities, to redevelop its Student Learning Experience model. This updated model will form a key part of the sector’s new quality framework in universities and colleges. This framework will put the experiences of students at the centre of discussions institutions have about the quality of their learning and teaching.
In line with the SFC’s intention to ensure this work is fully centred on the views of students, they have asked sparqs to undertake a major piece of work with students studying across the tertiary sector, to explore the key principles and approaches that constitute an excellent Student Learning Experience. This will take the form of a series of workshops with student reps and diverse student groups across Scotland.
How to get involved
We are looking for institutions and students’ associations to offer to host these workshops for us. The workshop is designed to take two hours, but this is adaptable. We can deliver the workshop either in person or online, depending on what you think would work best for your student group(s). The workshop will be delivered by sparqs’ Development Consultants or Associate Trainers, students who deliver our Course Rep Training across Scotland.
We’re aiming to host the workshops before the winter break where possible, although we can deliver some workshops in January. We’re looking to deliver the workshop with students at all levels of study (with one exception - PGR students – as for this group we are working on a separate project on PGR experience). We’re also looking to speak to students from diverse backgrounds and demographics, such as students who hold protected characteristics or may be underrepresented in further and higher education.
If you would be willing to host a workshop for us, please contact Megan Brown, Development Consultant (megan.brown@sparqs.ac.uk).
In your email, please include:
- Whether you would like the workshop to be in person or online.
- Some potential dates that would work for the workshop.
- Which student group(s) you can organise to attend the workshop, e.g. class reps, faculty officers, specific demographic groups/levels of study.
Alongside institution-specific workshops, sparqs will be hosting two cross-institutional online workshops which any student in a Scottish college or university can attend. These will take place on Monday 28th November (universities) and Tuesday 29th November (colleges), both from 2–4pm. Please look out for emails with more information on these workshops in the next couple of weeks, as well as details for students on how to sign up. [the events are now open to book].
You can read more about the background to this SLE project on our website.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact Megan, or your own sparqs contact (who may already have been in contact with you about the workshops).
Many thanks in advance to all those offering support with this exciting piece of work!
