sparqs Conference 2019 - call for proposals is now open! 02 Aug 2018
We are pleased to announce that the call for proposals is now open for #sparqs19, our conference taking place on Thursday 28th March 2019 at Surgeons' Hall in Edinburgh. The theme for the conference is ‘Student Engagement for All’, with proposals invited for presentations, workshops… Read More
sparqs 2018-19 Course Rep Training is open for bookings! 02 Aug 2018
Bookings are now open for sparqs Course Rep Training during 2018-19 ....for delivery from week beginning Monday 17th September 2018 onwards. All the information you need is on our main CRT webpage. Please read the booking guide before arranging your sessions and requesting dates. We have a range of Course Rep Training… Read More
Welcome to our 2018-19 Associate Trainers... and other team news! 02 Aug 2018
We are delighted to announce the appointment of an excellent team of student Associate Trainers for the coming academic year. The new team, including four returners from previous years, will begin delivering Course Rep Training from mid-September 2018 onwards (for which bookings are… Read More
Launch of sparqs' new ELIR Cycle 4 Practice Guide 02 Aug 2018
sparqs is delighted to announce the publication of our ELIR Cycle 4 Practice Guide, designed to support students' association representatives and staff to have meaningful student engagement throughout the ELIR (Enhancement-led Institutional Review) process. The practice guide, launched at our That's Quality! Universities event… Read More
Launch of sparqs’ online distance learning guidance 02 Aug 2018
In June 2018 sparqs launched its new resource on Engaging Students in Online Distance Learning (ODL). It is a culmination of around two years’ work with a number of Scottish universities interested in ODL engagement, plus one institution in Dublin… Read More
Invitation for students to feed into QAA’s defining degree outcomes events in August 02 Aug 2018
An opportunity for students to attend and contribute to a QAA event around their work on defining degree outcomes has arisen and we would encourage interested student officers to sign up! QAA are running two events in August and are keen… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Gemma Jones 02 Aug 2018
In this interview, we talk to Gemma Jones, Deputy President of NUS Scotland for 2018-19, whose job involves leading on quality and education within the NUS Scotland executive. She has just completed a sabbatical year as President of the SRUC… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Oisin Hassan 02 Aug 2018
In this interview, we talk to Oisín Hassan, Vice-President for Academic Affairs at the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). Previously he was Vice-President (Education) at Queen’s University Belfast Student’ Union. He was recently re-elected to serve a second year… Read More
Save the date! The sparqs Conference is on 28th March 2019 08 Jun 2018
. We are delighted to announce that sparqs will be holding its biennial conference on Thursday 28th March 2019, at Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh. . Conference Theme The theme for the conference is ‘Student Engagement for All’. It will provide an opportunity to focus… Read More
sparqs events currently open for bookings + future 'save the dates' 08 Jun 2018
Just a reminder that we currently have three events open for bookings, as advertised in our last news articles. There are still places on all three events, so please sign up now if you're planning to attend. In addition, please save the dates for our… Read More
‘Student Engagement in your institutional GAP’ - Launch of sparqs’ benchmarking and development tool 08 Jun 2018
sparqs is delighted to launch a new Benchmarking and Development tool to support colleges and universities across Scotland to improve student engagement in the design and delivery of their Gender Action Plans (GAPs). Student engagement in GAPs puts the student voice… Read More
Students needed for reading groups: UK Quality Code update 08 Jun 2018
The Expectations and Practices of the new UK Quality Code was published on 27th March 2018 after undergoing a significant redevelopment. The full code, including the Advice and Guidance that underpins the Expectations and Practices is scheduled for publication in… Read More
sparqs' Privacy Policy has been updated 08 Jun 2018
Please note that the sparqs Privacy Policy has been updated in line with the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) now in force within Europe, as of 25th May 2018. We would encourage anyone who uses our services to read this updated policy,… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON…EUSA’s participation in our ‘Monitoring the Diversity of Course Reps’ project 08 Jun 2018
This ‘SPOTLIGHT ON’ features Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s (EUSA’s) involvement in our pilot project to support institutions to monitor the diversity of their course reps. Many people working in HE and FE have ‘gut feelings’ about the make-up of course rep… Read More
Opportunity for students to sit on QAA’s Student Advisory Committee 08 Jun 2018
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) are currently recruiting new members for their Student Advisory Committee. This is an opportunity for students and SU staff who want a voice in how the quality of UK HE is ensured. Both Scottish representatives on… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Meera Sabaratnam 08 Jun 2018
In this interview, we talk to Dr Meera Sabaratnam, lecturer and BA Programme Convenor in International Relations at SOAS University of London. She has a strong research interest in colonial and post-colonial relations, statebuilding and development, and has been undertaking… Read More
That's Quality! 2018 - both events are now open for bookings! 08 May 2018
We are pleased to announce that both of our annual That's Quality! induction events are now open for bookings! The event for universities takes place on 17th & 18th July in Stirling and the event for colleges takes place on 8th & 9th August in Dundee. … Read More
Monitoring the Diversity of Course Reps: Introductory rollout event - 26th June 2018 08 May 2018
sparqs is holding an event on the afternoon of Tuesday 26th June 2018 to roll out our highly successful project on monitoring the diversity of course reps. During the pilot in 2017/18, we worked with four institutions and we are now working in partnership with Advance… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON.... Student Engagement with learning for sustainability at Dumfries and Galloway College 08 May 2018
This ‘Spotlight On’ features work that is underway at Dumfries and Galloway College to address student engagement with learning for sustainability, both within the curriculum, and across the wider college campus. The project was originally presented at the November 2017… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Matt Adie 08 May 2018
In this interview, we talk to Matt Adie, Vice-President (Education) at the University of Stirling Students’ Union and Student Theme Lead for the current QAA Enhancement Theme “Evidence for Enhancement: Improving the Student Experience”. Matt is currently in his final… Read More
