Submit to our Student Engagement Awards 2021! 30 Apr 2021
sparqs is proud to announce our Student Engagement Awards for 2021! In what would normally be a year for our internationally renowned biennial conference, the challenges for student engagement and the importance of partnership are at the forefront of our… Read More
A reminder re the joint QAA/sparqs Student-led Project Event on 25th May 2021 30 Apr 2021
A reminder that there's still time to sign up for our joint, student-led project event with QAA Scotland on 25th May.... As part of the current QAA Enhancement Theme – ‘Resilient Learning Communities’ - sparqs and QAA Scotland are working collaboratively… Read More
SESN on 13th May 2021 is open to book! 30 Apr 2021
Bookings are open for the next meeting of our Student Engagement Staff Network, taking place online on Thursday 13th May 2021 from 10.00am until 1.00pm. The network is aimed at staff in universities and colleges with student engagement and academic representation development roles. Our agenda contains two major discussions.… Read More
Bookings are open for NEON on 20th May 2021 + the new NEON mailing list! 30 Apr 2021
Join us for the final sparqs’ National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) meeting of the 2020-21 academic year, on Thursday 20th May 2021, from 10.00am until 1.00om. The network is designed to be a space for officers to network and work on issues together in a… Read More
Our 2021-22 Associate Trainer recruitment is still open! 30 Apr 2021
A reminder that sparqs 2021-22 Associate Trainer recruitment is still open for applications - deadline 9.00am, Monday 17th May 2021! .Calling all course reps and apprentice reps! Do you have experience as a course rep or apprentice rep? Will you be a student or… Read More
Your Course Rep Training options for 2021-22 30 Apr 2021
We are in the process of contacting Course Rep Training Organisers within Scottish institutions (the person who manages and oversees course rep systems) to ask about institutional plans for Course Rep Training delivery in 2021-22. A prompt reply (even if… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Heloisa Fyfe 30 Apr 2021
In this interview, we talk to Heloisa Fyfe, Vice-President (Representation and Volunteers) at Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA). Previously, she was a Festival and Event Management student and a Programme Rep at Edinburgh Napier University. 1. Can you tell us about… Read More
A recap of additions to our COVID-19 information hub 29 Mar 2021
In case you missed them, a quick recap of some recent additions to our COVID-19 information hub (which aren't already the main feature of another article).... . Save the date for our next NEON meeting on Thursday 20th May 2021Our regular, online, national… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Charlie Reis 29 Mar 2021
In this interview, we talk to Charlie Reis, Director of the Educational Development Unit at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XTJLU) in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China and founder of CAPED, the China-based Association for Partnership in Educational Development. He has been living… Read More
sparqs is recruiting student Associate Trainers 29 Mar 2021
sparqs 2021-22 Associate Trainer recruitment is open for applications - deadline 9.00am, Monday 17th May 2021! .Calling all course reps and apprentice reps! Do you have experience as a course rep or apprentice rep? Will you be a student or apprentice during 2021-22? If so,… Read More
Please note that sparqs will be closed from 1st-9th April 29 Mar 2021
Please note that sparqs will be closed from 1st-9th April inclusive, to allow for an Easter leave period for the staff team. We will reopen on Monday 12th April. While the office is closed, you can leave a message via the website or leave a voicemail… Read More
Student-led Project Event on 25th May 2021: ‘Innovations in Digital Student Communities' 29 Mar 2021
As part of the current QAA Enhancement Theme – ‘Resilient Learning Communities’ - sparqs and QAA Scotland are working collaboratively to facilitate the delivery of the Student-led Project (SLP). The SLP engages student officers from across the sector to input… Read More
New briefing note for officers on the SFC Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability 29 Mar 2021
We are pleased to publish our latest briefing note for student officers around the ongoing SFC Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability. The purpose of this latest briefing note is to explore student engagement in the review as it enters into the… Read More
sparqs' COVID-19 course rep briefing on transitions 29 Mar 2021
We have recently circulated our latest briefing note to course reps, part of a series of briefing notes and direct communications to course reps this year, to support their work and provide extra guidance for them during COVID-19. This latest briefing… Read More
SESN on 15th April 2021 is still open to book! 29 Mar 2021
The next meeting of our Student Engagement Staff Network is taking place on Thursday 15th April 2021 from 10.00am until 1.00pm. There's still time to book if you're planning to attend. The network is aimed at staff in universities and colleges with student engagement and… Read More
Save the dates for this year’s That’s Quality! events 29 Mar 2021
The dates have now been confirmed for our annual induction events for officers, both of which will take place online via Zoom. That’s Quality! Universities will take place on Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th July 2021. That's Quality! Colleges will take place on… Read More
sparqs' team news 04 Mar 2021
An update on some recent and forthcoming staff team news.... At the end of February we were very sad to say farewell to two members of our staff team, Hannah Clarke and Denise McCaig. Hannah has been with sparqs since June 2014… Read More
Your case studies for our major report celebrating partnership during the pandemic 04 Mar 2021
What successful partnership have you and colleagues developed during the COVID-19 pandemic? sparqs is planning a report to highlight and celebrate the successes of engagement and partnership across Scotland in this challenging academic year. We are seeking your examples for this… Read More
Updated education officer induction resource for colleges and their students’ associations 04 Mar 2021
Our guide to developing an education officer induction in colleges has been updated for the 2020-21 year and aims to provide support for the effective engagement of the students’ association education officer, Vice-President (Education) or equivalent. It is specific to colleges,… Read More
SESN on 9th March 2021 is still open to book! 04 Mar 2021
Our Student Engagement Staff Network will have its next meeting on Tuesday 9th March from 10.00am until 1.00pm. There's still time to book if you're planning to attend. The network is aimed at staff in universities and colleges with student engagement and academic representation development roles. The… Read More
