After many years of offering sparqs support, guidance and direction David Bottomley and Jane Denholm are stepping down from the Steering Committee. Both Jane and David have served on the steering committee since its inception in 2003.
Jane, from Critical Thinking, a public service consultancy, has been our external representative bringing ideas, a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to much of our decision making. Her position on the committee is not part of a paid role – she has given her time and energy for the ‘love of student engagement’.
David is the representative from QAA Scotland. He took over as chair of Steering in 2006. David has been an excellent friend to sparqs: advocating student engagement across the sector and providing sound counsel and thoughtful insight at every turn. He is respected by many across the sector with the staff and students involved in sparqs always holding him in high regard. All, past and present, are grateful for the time and energy he has devoted to our developing service.
We are always struck in sparqs at the commitment people across the sector show to student engagement. The work of colleagues including David and Jane has been instrumental in changing the culture in Scotland and leading us to be internationally recognised for this work. We are very grateful for their contribution and extremely sorry to see them go.
Whilst it is always sad to say goodbye we are also pleased to have Prof. Norman Sharp OBE joining us as our new Chair. Norman was Director of QAA Scotland during the inception of the Quality Enhancement Framework. Its emphasis on enhancement and the fundamental importance of the role of students as partners within it is in no small way down to his insight, enthusiasm and support. Norman continues to advocate this approach internationally and his contribution to Higher Education was recognised when he was awarded an OBE in 2006. Anyone attending the sparqs conference this year will remember Norman as a committed and outspoken advocate for the work of sparqs. As we enter what may be a challenging yet, we hope, exciting time for sparqs we are looking forward to having someone with Norman’s experience and commitment on board.
