Happy New Year from the sparqs team! 07 Jan 2020
Happy new year from the sparqs team! We're looking forward to a busy 2020, and look forward to working with all our colleagues across the sector and beyond during the coming year. We're also looking forward to welcoming a new Development Consultant… Read More
SE Staff Network meeting open to book - 5th February 2020 07 Jan 2020
Bookings are now open for the next meeting of the sparqs' Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) which is taking place on Wednesday 5th February 2020 at Forth Valley College's Falkirk Campus. SESN (previously ARC) has proved to be a valuable forum for staff… Read More
Second NEON meeting open to book - 19th February 2020 07 Jan 2020
The second meeting of the new sparqs’ National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) is taking place on Wednesday 19th February 2020, at Fife College's Dunfermline Campus. The network, launched in November 2019, provides an opportunity for officers with an education remit from colleges and universities… Read More
sparqs' Postgraduate Research Student Engagement Project 07 Jan 2020
sparqs is currently undertaking a project on Postgraduate Research student engagement and representation. PGR students form a significant part of the student profile in universities, but due to the nature of postgraduate study there are often distinct challenges and opportunities… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON... Edinburgh Napier University's development of the course rep role 07 Jan 2020
This ‘SPOTLIGHT ON’ features a new approach to generating school-specific ideas from course reps about the nature of their role in subject contexts, piloted through a workshop in November 2019 in the university’s School of Art and Creative Industries (SACI). The… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Billy Docherty 07 Jan 2020
In this interview, we talk to Billy Docherty, a student of psychology at The Open University. Although based in Scotland, he is active at a UK level within the Open University Students’ Association – he is a Faculty Association Representative… Read More
How good is our college? Progress Visits 2019-20 28 Nov 2019
For academic year 2019-20 Education Scotland has introduced Progress Visits for colleges, as part of the How good is our college? (HGIOC) review process. Progress Visits will take place with each college on an annual basis. The purpose of Progress… Read More
That's Quality! 2019 events roundup 28 Nov 2019
Over the Summer we held our annual induction events for college and university student officers. The focus of both events was how to use quality to enhance students’ learning and teaching experience. It was fantastic to meet so many enthusiastic… Read More
Headlines from sparqs’ first National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) event 28 Nov 2019
Our first meeting of the National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) took place on Thursday 14th November 2019 at Glasgow Caledonian University. The inaugural event was attended by 21 attendees from 16 institutions across Scotland and colleagues from NUS Scotland. Originally… Read More
Launch of sparqs’ Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) 28 Nov 2019
sparqs' new Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) had its first meeting on Tuesday 19th November 2019, attended by 19 staff from across 14 institutions and NUS Scotland. The network, formerly known as the Academic Representation Coordinators’ network (ARC), aims to draw… Read More
sparqs' Christmas closing details 28 Nov 2019
Over the festive period, the sparqs office will be closed from the end of Thursday 19th December onwards, reopening on Monday 6th January 2020. While the office is closed, you can leave a message via the website or leave a voicemail on our answerphone (0131 622 6599) and your… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Leila Adair and Toby Reid 28 Nov 2019
In this interview, we talk to Leila Adair and Toby Reid, S3 pupils and Young Leaders of Learning at Harlaw Academy in Aberdeen. Young Leaders of Learning (YLL) is a programme developed by Education Scotland to equip pupils to engage… Read More
Launch of sparqs' Education Officers' Network - first meeting 14th November 2019 10 Oct 2019
We are excited to announce the launch of the new sparqs’ Education Officers’ Network, which will provide an opportunity for officers from colleges and universities across Scotland to discuss and work on key sector issues together. The first meeting is taking place… Read More
ARC becomes SESN – and is open for registrations! 10 Oct 2019
We’re pleased to introduce our Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) as the new name for our Academic Representation Co-ordinators’ network (ARC) – and to open registration for our next gathering, on Tuesday 19th November 2019 at Dundee University Students’ Association. Over… Read More
New chairs of sparqs' College and University Advisory Groups 10 Oct 2019
We are delighted to announce the appointments of new chairs for two key bodies within sparqs’ governance structure. Roddy Henry, Depute Principal (Planning and Student Experience) at Inverness College UHI, and Prof Tina Harrison, Assistant Principal (Academic Standards and Quality… Read More
Welcome to our new Development Consultants! 10 Oct 2019
We are pleased to have recently welcomed two new Development Consultants to the sparqs team, Megan Brown and Justin Walker. Between them they bring a great balance of both experience and knowledge, which will complement the existing strengths of our… Read More
sparqs' Course Rep Training... are you reaching your Apprentices and senior phase school pupils? 10 Oct 2019
A reminder that bookings are open for sparqs Course Rep Training during 2019-20 and also a reminder about the support sparqs can provide in developing and delivering training for a range of student groups. We have a range of Course Rep Training (CRT) products, some of… Read More
Scotland's Student Mental Health Conference - call for proposals is open! 10 Oct 2019
The call for proposals is now open for Scotland’s Student Mental Health Conference, hosted by NUS Scotland's Think Positive project. The conference is taking place on Monday 11th May 2020 at Stirling Court Hotel and Think Positive are looking for your… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Rob McDermott 10 Oct 2019
In this interview, we talk to Rob McDermott, Quality Manager at Forth Valley College. Initially graduating from Bell College of Technology with an HND in Biological Sciences, he later returned to study as a mature student, graduating from Stirling University… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Maya Sutherland 10 Oct 2019
In this interview, we talk to Maya Sutherland, from the Centre for Academic Planning & Quality Assurance at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Maya Sutherland manages the Quality Assurance/Evaluation process at Stellenbosch University, of all academic departments and support services divisions. She… Read More
