sparqs' News - 2014

Quality Enhancement Framework Review - Universities 27 Nov 2014

The university quality arrangements in Scotland, with student engagement right at the centre, are halfway through a four-year cycle and therefore the process of reviewing these arrangements for implementation in two years’ time is getting underway. There will be a joint… Read More

Course Rep Training materials now available in Gaelic 27 Nov 2014

sparqs’ Introductory Course Rep Training materials have recently been translated into the Gaelic language. The materials – including the workbook and PowerPoint slides used in our introductory course rep training – were translated with support from the Scottish Funding Council’s strategic… Read More

SPOTLIGHT ON.... International engagement on L&T at Heriot-Watt University 27 Nov 2014

The Student Union at Heriot-Watt University has recognised the global nature of its activities by substantially enhancing the student voice for all their students. They now have a fully representative structure across all of their campuses – the UK (Edinburgh… Read More

Developing Post-Graduate Taught Student Engagement 27 Nov 2014

sparqs held a consultation event to explore what PGT engagement could look like and what resources are needed to support it on Wednesday 17th December 2014. This full day event was aimed at taught Masters students and education officers. The day was a consultation… Read More

College Student Leadership and forthcoming Student Board Member Training – 31st October 2014 06 Oct 2014

Attended by 36 student officers from across 15 colleges, sparqs and NUS Scotland recently held the annual “College Student Leadership” event to support college student officers develop and enhance their skills and knowledge to become leaders. It was a successful… Read More

sparqs Enhancement Themes Event - 28th October 2014 06 Oct 2014

This event was aimed at student officers who have Enhancement Themes as part of their role and students’ association staff. It was a chance to learn more about the new Theme (Student Transitions), discuss ideas and create plans for collaborative projects around the… Read More

Course Rep Training Success! 06 Oct 2014

As we gear up for another bumper year of Course Rep Training it's worth reflecting on last year's achievements. Due to the success of our Institutional Associate Trainer (IAT) scheme, the number of students trained rose from 3,305 the previous… Read More

sparqs at ‘Articulation for All’ Conference 2014 - Are Learners at the Centre? 06 Oct 2014

Students working with their colleges and universities is key to shaping the student learning and providing the very best student experience in Scotland. In this way our students are not just receivers of their education but partners in shaping the… Read More

Tools for mapping and planning student engagement 06 Oct 2014

Materials developed by sparqs were showcased at the recent annual conference of RAISE (Researching, Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement), held on 11th and 12th September 2014 at Manchester Metropolitan University. RAISE is a network of student engagement practitioners, student officers and… Read More

That's Quality event - 23rd September 2014 28 Aug 2014

sparqs is pleased to announce that this year’s That’s Quality! event will take place on Tuesday 23rd September 2014.  That’s Quality! is a one-day induction to the enhancement agenda for university student officers with an education remit and students’ association… Read More

New Enhancement Theme: Student Transitions 28 Aug 2014

During Summer 2014 sparqs has been visiting students’ associations to talk to student officers on how they can use the Theme to support their campaigns and work over the year in regards to learning and teaching. The feedback so far has… Read More

College Students' Associations Conference and the Future of National Support 28 Aug 2014

With College Students’ Associations: Realising Our Potential, our second national event, the Partnerships for Change project finishes with a bang! But this is not the end of students’ associations’ journeys – or our national support. At the FE Strategic Forum… Read More

New Articulation Project with ELRAH 29 Jul 2014

sparqs has embarked on new project with ELRAH (Edinburgh, Lothians, Fife and Borders Regional Articulation Hub) to increase student engagement in articulation (the pathway that allows students to progress from an HNC or HND directly into the 2nd or 3rd… Read More

Engaging Students in Co-Creating Curricula that Embed Equality and Diversity 29 Jul 2014

Engaging Students in Co-Creating Curriculum that Embed Equality and Diversity A key aspect of embedding equality and diversity in the curriculum is the engagement of students in their own curriculum creation. How though, can we do this in practice? What are… Read More

SPOTLIGHT ON.... Developing CRT at Perth College UHI 29 Jul 2014

The sparqs Resource Library now contains four new submissions from Perth College UHI relating to the course rep experience, and we’re delighted to highlight them here. Over a number of years, Perth College UHI has reflected on its course rep system… Read More

sparqs' International work 29 Jul 2014

We are currently partners in two exciting European projects which kicked off in February 2014, both of which are three-year projects funded by the European Commission Tempus programme. The first is the ESPAQ (Enhancing Student Participation in Quality Assurance in Armenian… Read More

SPOTLIGHT ON.... Regionalisation in the Highlands and Islands 18 Jun 2014

sparqs' support to colleges and students’ associations through the regionalisation process has always been customised to local situations and needs. But this has been especially the case in the Highlands and Islands, where the region is halfway through a two… Read More

Partnerships for Change Update 18 Jun 2014

National Partnerships for Change Conference On 14th August 2014 we will celebrate the achievements of students’ associations over the last two years, and mark the end of the Partnerships for Change project. It will also offer the opportunity for delegates to… Read More

College Student Leadership training - 8th/9th July 2014 18 Jun 2014

Bookings are now open for our College Student Leadership programme, taking place on 8th/9th July 2014 at University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. This is a new course delivered by NUS Scotland and sparqs for College officers in Scotland, replacing last year’s Supporting College Student… Read More

Student Partnership Agreement Success! 18 Jun 2014

In November 2013, sparqs published its Guidance on the development and implementation of a Student Partnership Agreement in universities. Student Partnership Agreements (SPAs) are designed to help institutions map their student engagement activity, promote engagement opportunities to students, and to… Read More

Launch of ELIR Cycle 3 Guidance 27 Mar 2014

In the past month, sparqs has published its ELIR Cycle 3 Guidance. This guidance goes through each year of ELIR and each activity that could happen, making students’ associations aware of the big picture of ELIR rather than only focusing… Read More

Upcoming Partnerships for Change Events and Projects 27 Mar 2014

There are lots of PfC opportunities coming up, including….. a Student Board Members Development webinar; a Trustee Board and Charitable Status meeting; the newly established SA Staff Peer Development Network; a National PfC Conference; plus two projects focused on resources –… Read More

sparqs Course Rep Training update 27 Mar 2014

Over the year so far sparqs Associate Trainers have delivered nearly 100 sessions of Introductory Course Rep Training to 19 institutions, training almost 1000 course reps. 93% of participants found the training valuable and 98% would recommend it to others. We… Read More

SPOTLIGHT ON.... Fife College: using Facebook to enhance learning and teaching 27 Mar 2014

Academics at Fife College have utilised social media to develop a vibrant online networking community to support learning and teaching. The use of Facebook within Carnegie College was permitted several years ago but use of it as a creative and supportive… Read More

Student voices in e-learning and teaching changes 27 Mar 2014

sparqs has been working with City of Glasgow College and its students’ association to find out what students think about e-assessment and e-learning at the college and how it can be improved. City of Glasgow Student Engagement Team has run… Read More

Developing Flexible Learner Journeys in Higher Education Conference: 29th April 2014 27 Mar 2014

QAA are holding a one-day conference for their Flexible Curriculum project on 29th April 2014 in Glasgow. This event will examine the concept of flexible learner journeys into and through higher education by introducing two new initiatives developed by QAA… Read More

sparqs is currently recruiting! 14 Mar 2014

We are looking for some talented people to join the sparqs team. There are three different roles currently inviting applications:   Institutional Support and Development Manager We are looking for an experienced manager who can support the delivery of a range of services to… Read More

We are currently recruiting our team of 2014-15 Associate Trainers 14 Mar 2014

We are now welcoming applications for Associate Trainers to make up the team for the academic year 2014-15. They will deliver Course Representative Training to reps in institutions in either the central belt, north or west of Scotland. We are looking… Read More

Partnerships for Change: Update and Future Focus 28 Jan 2014

It’s only the first month of 2014, but that means we’re half way through the academic year – and it’s time to start thinking about the next! There have been some great things achieved by college students’ associations over the last… Read More

SPOTLIGHT ON… Edinburgh Napier University’s Rep Residential 27 Jan 2014

In early November 2013, Edinburgh Napier University and Napier Students’ Association (NSA) worked together to deliver a Rep Residential training weekend, in an excellent example of taking joint responsibility for student representation and engagement. The residential was part of a change… Read More

Public Information Project 27 Jan 2014

The University of the West of Scotland and sparqs are about to begin a project on Public Information and its relevance to staff and students. Public Information is one of the five elements of the Quality Enhancement Framework, and it’s important… Read More

Game Changer Awards – 31st January deadline for submissions! 26 Jan 2014

Colleges Scotland and Universities Scotland have welcomed the endorsement of Scottish Government Ministers for the Game Changer Awards. Welcoming the opportunity to recognise the unique contribution made by colleges and universities to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, the Cabinet Secretary for… Read More

Happy New Year! 06 Jan 2014

2014 news articles coming soon..... Click the "All" hyperlink to read previous 2013 articles including the launch of our Student Partnership Agreement guidance and Resource Library, and publication of our Annual Report 2013 and full Celebration Reports for both the university and college sectors. Read More

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Student Engagement Framework

National Education Officers' Network meeting

21 Mar 2024

This meeting of sparqs’ National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) continues our series of meetings for academic year 2023-24. …

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Student Engagement Staff Network meeting

19 Mar 2024

This meeting of our Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) for academic year 2023-24 continues our series of half-day events for…

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