The year ahead and a recap of our December articles! 24 Jan 2023
Happy new year (slightly belated) from the sparqs team! We look forward to working with you all again during 2023! In the year ahead we will continue to provide support to colleges and universities and their students' associations, including enabling effective… Read More
Our next SESN meeting is open to book - 2nd March 2023 24 Jan 2023
Our next Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 2nd March 2023 and is now open to book! It will take place online via Zoom, from 10.00am until 1.00pm. See the event booking page for further details and to register to… Read More
Our next NEON meeting is open to book - 9th March 2023 24 Jan 2023
Our next National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 9th March 2023 and is now open to book! It will take place online via Zoom, from 10.00am until 1.00pm. See the event booking page for further details and to register to… Read More
Briefings on quality arrangements for colleges and universities 2022-2024 24 Jan 2023
As the sector moves towards a joint approach to quality, for the next two academic years (2022-23 and 2023-24) colleges and universities will still carry out separate quality arrangements. sparqs continues to support institutions in ensuring students are engaged in these… Read More
Updated “outduction” toolkit for supporting education officers 24 Jan 2023
Our toolkit to support the future careers of education officers in students’ associations has been updated for 2023’s departing officers. Developed in partnership with NUS Charity, the College Development Network and Advance HE, the toolkit is aimed at those who… Read More
Have photos of your learning space? Contribute to the National Student-led Project on Learner Communities 24 Jan 2023
Calling all students! ....the students of the QAA Student-led Project are seeking photos of your learning environment to contribute to their photo exhibition about Scotland’s learner communities. The Student-led Project is part of QAA Scotland’s Enhancement Themes, a core element of Scotland’s… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Chase Greenfield 24 Jan 2023
In this interview, we talk to Chase Greenfield, Academic Representation Coordinator at the University of St Andrews Students’ Association, where he has worked since August 2021. Previously, he worked in the USA as the Student Engagement Coordinator at Montana State… Read More
Thanks and farewell to our founding Trustees 15 Dec 2022
Following eight years of valued support, we recently wished farewell to two of our founding Trustees, Dr Iain Morrison (Dean of Student Experience at UHI) and Audrey Burns (former Chief Executive of University of Stirling Students’ Union). Both Iain and… Read More
Introducing sparqs’ new jobs board: discover student engagement roles in our sector 15 Dec 2022
A new jobs board has been launched on the sparqs website, collating student engagement vacancies into a single directory. We regularly promote vacancies in student engagement roles on behalf of colleges, universities and students’ associations in Scotland through our social media… Read More
sparqs' Christmas closing details 15 Dec 2022
Over the festive period, the sparqs' office will be officially closed from the end of Tuesday 20th December onwards, reopening on Monday 9th January 2023. While the office is closed, you can leave a message via the website or leave a voicemail on our answerphone (0131 622 6599) or… Read More
HEA Fellowships in sparqs 15 Dec 2022
We are delighted that our colleague, Simon Varwell, has recently been awarded the status of Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA). The fellowships, run by Advance HE, are internationally recognised levels of accreditation for individual professionals who work… Read More
Read Eve's WONKHE blog on why quality enhancement needs student engagement 15 Dec 2022
We are delighted to share a blog, written by our Director, Eve Lewis, recently published on the WONKHE website. Published as part of QAA Scotland's ongoing 20 Years of Enhancement celebrations, Eve's blog is around why quality enhancement needs student… Read More
Introducing the Tertiary Enhancement Topic 15 Dec 2022
‘The future of learning and teaching: defining and delivering an effective and inclusive digital/blended offering.’ We are pleased to publish a briefing on the newly introduced Tertiary Enhancement Topic, which the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) proposed as an additional project to… Read More
Contribute to sparqs’ new project on college learner outcomes 15 Dec 2022
sparqs is keen to hear from colleges and students’ associations willing to participate in a project to explore student engagement in enhancing college learner outcomes. Responding to both national and college level data, sparqs has identified the value of better understanding… Read More
Launching the new sparqs' Buddying Scheme! 15 Dec 2022
Upon request of sparqs’ SESN (Student Engagement Staff Network) members, we are delighted to launch our new Buddying Scheme for student engagement staff across Scotland! Simply complete the sign-up form and we will match you with another practitioner in the field… Read More
Opportunities to present at the EFYE Conference in 2023 (university level) – sparqs and Abertay University 15 Dec 2022
Students and staff have an opportunity to present at next summer’s European First Year Experience (EFYE) Conference. The conference will be hosted by Abertay University in collaboration with sparqs, taking place on 27th-29th June 2023 in Dundee. The call for proposals… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Ellie Gomersall 15 Dec 2022
In this interview, we talk to Ellie Gomersall, NUS Scotland’s new President for 2022-23. She took up office in July, and has previously served as President of the University of the West of Scotland Students’ Association, and Co-Convenor of the… Read More
Our SLE workshops are now open for students to register! 14 Nov 2022
As outlined in our previous news article published on 1st November, sparqs is currently undertaking a national project exploring the Student Learning Experience (SLE). We are pleased to announce that the cross-institutional workshops (one for university students and one for college students)… Read More
New sparqs’ student guide on the Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme 01 Nov 2022
We are pleased to have recently published our new Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme in context – student guide, a resource for students, developed to give context to QAA Scotland’s Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme. The Concerns Scheme provides an opportunity for students, staff… Read More
Promoting Equity of the SLE: resources published from Enhancement Themes Student-led Project 2021-22 01 Nov 2022
As part of the Enhancement Themes, sparqs and QAA Scotland work in partnership to facilitate the delivery of the Student-led Project (SLP). The SLP is led by a steering group of student officers from across Scotland who choose a sub-topic… Read More
