Book now for our That's Quality! 2022 events! 04 May 2022
We are pleased to announce that our annual That's Quality! events for student officers and students’ association staff are now open for bookings! The 2022 events are split into three parts and delegates are required to complete all three elements. The first part… Read More
ESU call for Quality Assurance Student Experts - Deadline: 15th May 2022 04 May 2022
The European Students’ Union (ESU) currently has a call open for 90 members of their Quality Assurance Student Experts’ Pool for the membership term 2022-23. This call is open for current Pool members as well as for new applicants. Successful… Read More
Measuring project progress of sparqs/NUS support to develop college SAs 04 May 2022
As part of the Developing College Students’ Associations (DCSA) project, we are asking all Scottish colleges and their students’ associations (SAs) to answer some questions about SA activities and plans. The project is operated jointly by sparqs and NUS Charity,… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Jodie McNair 04 May 2022
In this interview, we talk to Jodie McNair, Development Officer at Glasgow Clyde College Students’ Association (GCCSA), where she has worked for almost five years. Her first role in the sector was Sports and Societies Intern for Glasgow Caledonian Students’… Read More
Save the dates for the 2022 That’s Quality! events 12 Apr 2022
We are pleased to announce the confirmed dates for our annual induction events for student officers and students’ association staff. To retain the benefits of both online and in-person delivery, the 2022 event will be split into three parts. The… Read More
sparqs’ forums combined in-person event – 11th May 2022 12 Apr 2022
After two years of online meetings, sparqs is delighted to announce a combined in-person meeting of its Joint Advisory Group (JAG), National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) and Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN). This will take place on Wednesday 11th May… Read More
Course Rep Training - planning for 2022-23 12 Apr 2022
We have recently emailed Course Rep Training Co-ordinators to ask Scottish institutions about their plans for delivering Course Rep Training (CRT) in 2022-23. In the majority of cases, Introductory CRT is delivered in one of the following ways. Most of these… Read More
Reminder: sparqs is recruiting student Associate Trainers! 12 Apr 2022
A reminder that our sparqs 2022-23 Associate Trainer recruitment is open for applications - deadline 9.00am, Wednesday 4th May 2022! .Calling all student reps! Do you have experience as a course/apprentice or other representative role? Will you be a student or apprentice during 2022-23? ....if… Read More
Our Education officer “outduction” resource has been updated for 2022 12 Apr 2022
sparqs’ “outduction” resource, which aims to support the career development of departing students’ association education officers, has been updated for 2022. The resource was first published in 2021, in conjunction with Advance HE, College Development Network and NUS Charity. It is… Read More
An update on the Student-led Project: Promoting the Equity of the Student Learning Experience 12 Apr 2022
As part of the current 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 and shape a… Read More
Watch the recording from the SCAPP/sparqs event on SE and widening access 12 Apr 2022
Collaboration between sparqs and SCAPP (Scotland’s Community of Access and Participation Practitioners) culminated in an event that showcased practice in the interface of student engagement and widening access and participation. We are delighted to share that the recording from this… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Anne Campbell 12 Apr 2022
In this interview, we talk to Anne Campbell, Vice-Principal (Curriculum) at Ayrshire College. She has worked in the college sector for over 20 years and has occupied various learning and teaching positions throughout her career. Before joining Ayrshire College, Anne… Read More
sparqs is recruiting student Associate Trainers! 22 Mar 2022
sparqs 2022-23 Associate Trainer recruitment is open for applications - deadline 9.00am, Wednesday 4th May 2022! .Calling all student reps! Do you have experience as a course/apprentice or other representative role? Will you be a student or apprentice during 2022-23? ....if so, and you would… Read More
Book now for our NEON event on 7th April 22 Mar 2022
There's still plenty time to book for the next meeting of our National Education Officers' Network (NEON), taking place online, from 10.00am until 1.00pm, on Thursday 7th April 2022. See the event booking page for further information and to register to attend. The NEON network is… Read More
Last chance to book for SESN on 24th March 22 Mar 2022
Last chance to register for the next meeting of our Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN), taking place this Thursday, 24th March 2022 - online, from 10.00am until 1.00pm, See the event booking page for further details and to register to attend. The SESN network is aimed at staff in universities and… Read More
Recent SQA Announcements – NQ summer exams 22 Mar 2022
SQA has recently announced some specific guidelines that affect this year’s NQ exams (National Qualifications). These are generally the courses delivered at school level, including Nat 5s and Highers; but the news will also be of interest to college students’… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Sofia Khan 22 Mar 2022
In this interview, we talk to Sofia Khan, Access and Participation Coordinator at University of Strathclyde Students’ Association. She has been in her current post since January 2020, in which she delivers the students’ association’s support to a range of… Read More
Register for our February and March SESN meetings 16 Feb 2022
Bookings are open for the next two meetings of our Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN). See below for details of the February and March dates and how to register to attend, as well as how to keep yourself in the… Read More
Our March and April NEON meetings are open to book 16 Feb 2022
Bookings are open for the next two meetings of our National Education Officers' Network (NEON). See below for details of the March and April dates and how to register to attend, as well as how to keep yourself in the loop… Read More
sparqs' support to college SAs through changes in the quality landscape 16 Feb 2022
Work is underway to design a joint quality framework for colleges and universities, as recommended by the SFC Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability published in June 2021. In the meantime, quality arrangements in colleges and universities must continue and… Read More
