sparqs' 2019-20 Course Rep Training is open for bookings! 02 Aug 2019
Bookings are now open for sparqs Course Rep Training during 2019-20 ....for delivery from week beginning Monday 16th September 2019 onwards. All the information you need is on our main CRT webpage. Please read the booking guidance before arranging your sessions and requesting dates. We have a range of Course… Read More
Welcome to our 2019-20 Associate Trainers... and other team news! 02 Aug 2019
We are delighted to announce the appointment of an excellent team of student Associate Trainers for the coming academic year. The new team, including a returner from last year, will begin delivering Course Rep Training from week beginning 16th September… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON... University of Dundee’s innovative approach in supporting the Student Union Executive Team 02 Aug 2019
This ‘SPOTLIGHT ON’ features an innovative approach being used by the University of Dundee to enhance professional development within the Student Union Executive team. The Graduate Careers and Professional Development Certificate is a credit-bearing programme run by the Careers Service… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Kate Walsh 02 Aug 2019
In this interview, we talk to Kate Walsh, Project Manager of Student Voice Australia, a one-year pilot initiative involving ten Australian institutions who have been exploring student engagement in institutional decision-making and governance. Prior to taking up this role she worked… Read More
That's Quality! Colleges 2019 is now open for bookings! 28 Jun 2019
We are pleased to announce that our annual training event, That’s Quality! Colleges 2019 is now open for registrations! The two-day residential event is taking place on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th of August at West Park Conference Centre in Dundee. The event is for student… Read More
Young Leaders of Learning 28 Jun 2019
“Because kids know what school should be like for kids” ~ p6 pupil. sparqs is delighted to be working with Education Scotland on the Young Inspectors Programme (termed Young Leaders of Learning thanks to pupils’ recommendations!). The programme enables pupils to… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Lucy Gault 28 Jun 2019
In this interview, we talk to Lucy Gault, Vice President Education with Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union, who is nearing the end of her second sabbatical year. Prior to her posts, she undertook a degree in English Literature and Sociology,… Read More
sparqs is recruiting for two Development Consultants! 28 Jun 2019
We are currently recruiting for two Development Consultants to join the staff team We are seeking two enthusiastic and dedicated people to deliver a range of activities including training, consultancy support and research and development projects. Both posts are full-time (35 hours a… Read More
Save the date for That's Quality! Colleges - open to book soon! 03 Jun 2019
If you don't already have the dates held in relevant diaries... our annual induction event for college officers, That's Quality! Colleges 2019, is taking place on Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th August 2019 at West Park Conference Centre in Dundee. Please save the dates for now....… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON... EUSA and Edinburgh University's Student Partnership Agreement 03 Jun 2019
Edinburgh’s Student Partnership Agreement (SPA) is now in its second year. This agreement builds on the strength of the existing partnership between the University and the Students’ Association. It highlights how the wider University, including all students and staff, can… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Professor Norman Sharp OBE 03 Jun 2019
In this interview, we talk to Professor Norman Sharp OBE, who stepped down at the sparqs’ 2019 conference as chair of our Trustees (pictured right, receiving an Award at #sparqs19 to thank him and mark his invaluable contribution to sparqs… Read More
That's Quality! Universities 2019 is open for bookings! 03 Jun 2019
We are pleased to announce that our annual training event, That’s Quality! Universities 2019, is now open for registrations! The two-day residential event is taking place on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th of July at West Park Conference Centre in… Read More
sparqs 2019-20 Associate Trainer recruitment - last chance to apply! 08 May 2019
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 2019-20? ....if so, and you would like to earn some income, apply to be a sparqs Associate… Read More
sparqs' team news 08 May 2019
During April we were sad to bid farewell to two of our Development Consultants, Lindsay Isaacs and Morven Stewart, as they both move on to pastures new. Both will be hugely missed, both personally and professionally! Lindsay has been a valued… Read More
sparqs' contribution at the 2019 EUA Learning and Teaching conference in Poland 08 May 2019
sparqs participated in the 2nd annual European University Association (EUA) Learning and Teaching Forum on 14th-15th February 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. The 2019 European Learning and Teaching Forum’s focus was ‘‘Towards successful learning: Controversies and common ground”, building on the recognition… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON... Dundee and Angus College’s Support Learning Class Rep System 08 May 2019
This ‘SPOTLIGHT ON’ features Dundee and Angus College’s Support Learning Class Rep System, including how they recruit and train their reps to ensure that there is effective student representation across all classes and levels. We spoke to Sarah Rennie, Students' Association… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Sorcha Kirker 08 May 2019
In this interview, we talk to Sorcha Kirker, Vice-President (Higher Education) of the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA). Previously she was the Depute President for Orkney College, and was a student of archaeology (completing her undergraduate degree with UHI,… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Mark Charters 08 Apr 2019
In this interview, we talk to Mark Charters, Academic Development Coordinator at Glasgow School of Art. He studied at the University of Stirling, where he was also Vice-President (Education & Engagement) with the students’ association and then Representation and Student… Read More
Open for registration – Academic Rep Co-ordinators’ Network meeting on 7th May 2019! 08 Apr 2019
The third Academic Representation Co-ordinators' (ARC) Network meeting of 2018-19 is now open for registrations! The Academic Representation Co-ordinators’ Network is sparqs’ professional forum for staff in roles relating to the support of academic representation and student engagement in quality. Under the banner… Read More
#sparqs19 Conference and Awards round-up! 08 Apr 2019
.A big thank you to everyone who attended and presented at the sparqs’ 2019 conference and together contributed to making it such a resounding success! We were delighted to welcome around 200 delegates from Scotland, the rest of the UK,… Read More
