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
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
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
#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
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
Student Mental Wellbeing: A Learning and Teaching Perspective 08 Apr 2019
sparqs recognises that understanding and improving student mental health and wellbeing is a priority for students, student officers, institution staff and people working across the Further and Higher Education sectors in Scotland. We are currently developing a project that will examine… Read More
Welcome to our new Chair and the launch of our new Strategic Plan 08 Apr 2019
At the sparqs’ conference on 28th March 2019, we were delighted to formally welcome Sir Andrew Cubie into his new role as Chair of the sparqs’ Trustee Board. Sir Andrew succeeds Professor Norman Sharp OBE, to whom we bid a… Read More
Save the dates for this year's That's Quality events! 08 Apr 2019
The dates have now been confirmed for our annual induction events for officers.... That’s Quality! Universities 2019 will take place on Wednesday 17th & Thursday 18th July 2019 and That's Quality! Colleges 2019 will take place on Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th August… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Megan Brown 08 Apr 2019
In this interview, we talk to Megan Brown, Academic Engagement Co-ordinator at Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA). Alongside her role at EUSA, Megan sits on QAA's Student Advisory Committee and sparqs' University Advisory Group. 1. Tell us a bit about your… Read More
Course Rep of the Year Awards shortlists announcement! 19 Feb 2019
3rd sparqs' Student Engagement Awards Shortlists! We are delighted to announce the shortlists for the 'Course Rep of the Year' sparqs Student Engagement Awards! Congratulations to the following reps and thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate an outstanding… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON…University of the West of Scotland's innovative approach to ILR 19 Feb 2019
This ‘SPOTLIGHT ON’ features the University of the West of Scotland’s innovative approach to Institution-led Review (ILR) which has been contextualised to mirror certain elements of Enhancement-led Institution Review (ELIR), and enables programme teams to focus on those areas where… Read More
International delegate programme at #sparqs19 - site visits open to book! 19 Feb 2019
We're pleased to announce that the site visits for international delegates attending #sparqs19 are now open to book! In addition to the main conference on 28th March 2019, the optional site visits and International Delegates' Day during the same week as the… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Tom Lowe 19 Feb 2019
In this interview, we talk to Tom Lowe, who is the Centre for Student Engagement Manager at the University of Winchester and Secretary for the international network RAISE (Researching, Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement). Tom’s area of focus is the practicalities surrounding engaging students… Read More
