sparqs colleagues Megan Brown and Simon Varwell recently presented a paper in Bilbao, Spain, at the European University Association’s Learning and Teaching Forum, an annual conference for staff and students from across Europe to discuss developments in learning and teaching. The theme of the 2023 Forum was “Connecting people, spaces and realities”.
One of only three papers to be accepted at the conference and described as “inspiring”, Megan and Simon’s paper explored the development and support of national spaces for student engagement. It drew on the significant recent changes in Scotland where the voice of students has been central to sector policy-making and enhancement activity, both through the pandemic and over the past twenty years of Scotland’s Quality Enhancement Framework.
The paper covered the policy and projects behind various national spaces in quality and student engagement, including the Enhancement Themes’ Student-led Project, the Tertiary Enhancement Topic, moves to a tertiary approach to quality, and the development of professionalised approaches to student engagement through sparqs’ Student Engagement Staff Network and Professional Standards Framework for Student Engagement.
In highlighting Scotland’s pioneering approach to national student engagement, the paper has also created scope for learning and sharing with delegates from across Europe and beyond. You can read Megan and Simon’s paper and accompanying presentation among the many other resources from the conference.
For further information please contact Megan Brown, Development Consultant (megan.brown@sparqs.ac.uk) or Simon Varwell, Senior Development Consultant (simon.varwell@sparqs.ac.uk).