sparqs' team news! 15 Nov 2023
After 16 years with sparqs, we are very sorry that we will soon be losing one of our long-standing team members, Simon Varwell, as he leaves to take up an exciting new role with UHI’s students’ association, HISA. Simon is… Read More
A celebration of #sparqs20years 15 Nov 2023
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 20th birthday celebration event on the evening of Thursday 5th October 2023 ~ #sparqs20years The event reflected on and celebrated the progress Scotland has made over the last 20 years in student… Read More
Congratulations to our 2023 Student Engagement Award-winners! 15 Nov 2023
Congratulations to all of our Student Engagement Award-winners and thanks to everyone who joined us on Thursday 5th October 2023 for the Awards ceremony, which took place at our 20th birthday celebration event! #sparqs20years The Awards ceremony was superbly hosted by Sir Andrew Cubie,… Read More
Launch of the new Student Learning Experience model 15 Nov 2023
Launched at the sparqs' 20th birthday event on Thursday 5th October 2023, we are delighted to share our new Student Learning Experience model, developed as part of the single tertiary approach to quality for colleges and universities. The new model seeks… Read More
Creating and reviewing student engagement roles: launching our new resource! 15 Nov 2023
sparqs is pleased to publish a new resource, Creating and reviewing student engagement roles, to accompany the Professional Standards Framework for Student Engagement (PSFSE). The new resource is designed to support those seeking to create and review posts relating to student engagement in… Read More
Reminder re our next SESN and NEON network meetings 15 Nov 2023
A reminder about our next SESN and NEON meetings coming up soon..... SESN (Student Engagement Staff Network) The next meeting is taking place on Wednesday 29th November 2023, from 10.00am to 1.00pm via Zoom. See the event booking page to register to attend. The agenda will follow… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Libby Gill 15 Nov 2023
In this interview, we talk to Libby Gill, Student Partnership Development Officer at Robert Gordon University (RGU). They began this post in April 2023, following a range of roles in heritage and education, including as an English language teacher. A… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Erica Russell-Hensens 15 Nov 2023
In this interview, we talk to Erica Russell-Hensens, Deputy Director for Student Interests, Access and Pathways at the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). After a sabbatical term of office at (what became) Queen Margaret University, Erica worked for two years at… Read More
Return of the Buddy Scheme! 21 Sep 2023
Following the successful pilot of sparqs’ Buddy Scheme, which ran from January to June 2023 (you can read more about it in our June article), we are happy to announce the opening of the Buddy Scheme for 2023-24. As a… Read More
That’s Quality! 2023 event round-up 21 Sep 2023
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 help new officers engage in quality processes at the institutional and national level. The 2023… Read More
College student board member induction resources 21 Sep 2023
The annual induction for student members of college boards of management took place on 31st August and 1st September 2023, and sparqs was involved in leading the event with colleagues from NUS Scotland and the College Development Network. Covering the… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Douglas Blackstock 21 Sep 2023
In this interview, we talk to Douglas Blackstock, President of ENQA (the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education). He has held various roles, including six years as Chief Executive during nearly twenty years at the Quality Assurance Agency… Read More
sparqs' team news! 21 Sep 2023
As many of you may know, Stef Black has been seconded from sparqs to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for the past year, in the role of Senior Policy Officer. Stef has recently made the decision to continue in her… Read More
Next SESN meetings on 5th October and 29th November 2023 21 Sep 2023
After our first successful Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) meeting for this academic year, registrations are now open for the following two meetings, on Thursday 5th October 2023 (joint, in-person, planning meeting with NEON and JAG, as previously advertised) and… Read More
Next NEON meetings on 5th October and 6th December 2023 21 Sep 2023
After our first successful National Education Officers Network (NEON) meeting for this academic year, registrations are now open for the following two meetings, on Thursday 5th October 2023 (joint, in-person, planning meeting with SESN and JAG, as previously advertised) and a regular NEON meeting… Read More
sparqs' 2023-24 Course Rep Training is open for bookings! 18 Aug 2023
Bookings are now open for Course Rep Training during 2023-24 ....for delivery from week beginning Monday 18th September 2023 onwards. All the information you need is on our main CRT webpage. Please read the booking guidance before arranging your sessions and… Read More
Meet our Associate Trainer team for 2023-24 18 Aug 2023
We are delighted to introduce our excellent team of student Associate Trainers (ATs) for the coming academic year. The team includes nine newly-recruited trainers and seven returners from previous years! The team will begin delivering Introductory Course Rep Training (part two)… Read More
The first NEON meetings of 2023-24 are open to book! 18 Aug 2023
It's nearly time for our first National Education Officers' Network (NEON) online meeting of 2023-24, which will be followed the next again month, by an in-person, joint meeting with SESN and JAG colleagues! The network provides an opportunity for officers from both colleges… Read More
QAA Scotland is seeking student reps for SHEEC 18 Aug 2023
QAA Scotland has recently launched a nomination process to appoint three new student representatives to SHEEC (Scottish Higher Education Enhancement Committee) for 2023-24. Details of the nominations process and how to apply online can be found on the QAA website. Applications… Read More
Register to join us in celebrating 20 years of sparqs! 18 Aug 2023
Join us at SKYbar in Edinburgh on Thursday 5th October 2023 (6-8pm) for our 20th birthday celebration event! Our 20th birthday party will reflect on, and celebrate, the progress Scotland has made over the last 20 years in student engagement. Bringing… Read More
