A round-up from our annual That’s Quality! induction event for new college and university student officers and those who support them. The event is designed to introduce participants to the quality enhancement agenda, look at why quality matters to students and explore how to use quality systems to make change.
The 2026 event was split into two parts. The first part of That’s Quality! was an online self-study module, providing officers with a more detailed overview of quality in Scotland. This module is accessible to officers throughout their year in post so that they can refer to it on an ongoing basis.
During part two, we held a residential event in August at Queen Margaret University (QMU), with delegates from across the tertiary sector. This year, we added an extra half day (based on participant feedback) to the residential. On the afternoon of Monday 10th August, participants from both colleges and universities joined us in Musselburgh to explore the Student Learning Experience and hear more about how important student representation is in the current sector landscape. On Tuesday 11th August, we covered topics including student partnership in quality; using the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework to make change; skill building for self-evaluation and action planning; diversity and inclusion; and using data and evidence effectively.
The final day of the event involved a simulation activity. Each tutor group became the new students’ association of our fictional tertiary institution, Central Scotland University College! Throughout the day, each group took parts in several ‘visits’ – one with Stef Black, Hannah Wilson, and Scott Carle from the Scottish Funding Council; one with Holly Thomas and Rachel Horrocks-Birss from QAA Scotland; one from Rachel Currie and Justine Pedussel from NUS Scotland; and a meeting with Vicky Underwood from the College Development Network. Alongside these scheduled visits, several ‘disruptions’ took place throughout the day, giving officers the chance to apply what they had learned into practice.
This year, “That’s Quality!” included 66 delegates from across 31 colleges, universities and tertiary institutions. We’re so glad to have had the chance to be a part of induction and are eager to continue working with student officers and their support staff during the year ahead!
For further information, please contact Chase Greenfield, Development Consultant: chase.greenfield@sparqs.ac.uk.