sparqs' team news! 12 Nov 2024
We’ve recently wished a fond farewell to Megan McHaney, who has been working with us over the past year on a temporary consultancy basis. Megan’s work has been hugely valuable to sparqs, providing additional capacity during the development of some… Read More
College student board member induction materials 12 Nov 2024
The annual induction for student members of college boards of management took place online on Thursday 5th September 2024 and the materials are now available! The event, run jointly by colleagues from the College Development Network, NUS Charity and sparqs, is… Read More
National sparqs' CRT sessions 12 Nov 2024
During the last academic year, we piloted national Course Rep Training (CRT) sessions, giving reps from all colleges and universities the chance to attend a sparqs’ CRT session if they had missed the opportunity within their own institution. These sessions were… Read More
Our 2024-25 NEON programme begins on 10th December! 12 Nov 2024
sparqs is excited to announce the first of the National Education Officers Network (NEON) meetings for 2024-25, which will take place on Tuesday 10th December 2024, on Zoom, from 11.00am to 12.30pm. See the event booking page to sign up and save… Read More
Our recent resources and SFC SEAP drop-ins! 12 Nov 2024
A reminder about two of our recently-published resources, in case anyone missed them.... both designed to help institutions with the new tertiary quality arrangements, in terms of how partnership approaches can be built into institutional processes, and supporting meaningful student… Read More
Launch of sparqs’ Self-Evaluation and Action Plan (SEAP) guidance 17 Oct 2024
sparqs is delighted to announce the publication of our SEAP Guidance for students’ associations and student officers, designed to support meaningful student engagement throughout the SEAP (Self-Evaluation and Action Plan) process. The guidance includes an overview of the SEAP process;… Read More
Launch of Scotland's Ambition for Student Partnership resource 07 Oct 2024
We are delighted to share our new resource, Scotland’s Ambition for Student Partnership, and its accompanying features and indicators. Commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), it builds on sparqs’ previous work supporting the sector to explore partnership and helps… Read More
SESN and NEON reminders... our next SESN meeting is now open! 07 Oct 2024
A reminder about our 2024-25 SESN meetings and NEON plans..... SESN (Student Engagement Staff Network) The next two SESN dates for this academic year have already been set and the November meeting is now open for bookings: Thursday 28th November 2024 – online,… Read More
Still time to sign up for sparqs' Buddy Scheme! 07 Oct 2024
The Buddy Scheme is back for a third year and there's still time to sign up before the deadline on Friday 18th October 2024! Aimed at student engagement practitioners working in students' associations and institutions across Scotland, by signing up to… Read More
Have you organised your Course Rep Training? 07 Oct 2024
Our Course Rep Training (CRT) sessions are now underway, so just a reminder to CRT Organisers (Representation Co-ordinators and those with similar remits in colleges and universities across Scotland) to arrange your rep training, if you haven’t already done so. If… Read More
sparqs' team news! 11 Sep 2024
We are delighted to welcome Catriona Bell to the sparqs’ team over the next few months, joining us on a Consultancy basis to carry out a piece work around staff development. Catriona has been engaged in sparqs’ work over the… Read More
sparqs' Buddy Scheme is open for registrations! 11 Sep 2024
The Buddy Scheme is back for a third year! Aimed at student engagement practitioners working in students' associations and institutions across Scotland, by signing up to the scheme, you are paired with a buddy, to give you the opportunity to… Read More
New sparqs' guide on best practices for a successful student induction 11 Sep 2024
We are pleased to launch a new online and blended learning resource on best practices for a successful student induction, aimed at supporting sabbatical officers to reflect on induction activities and resources available to students in the context of online… Read More
Suggested questions to help course reps 2024-25 11 Sep 2024
Alongside the revised Student Learning Experience model, sparqs has also produced a revised set of Suggested questions for course reps for 2024-25. These questions can help reps collect feedback from classmates in specific thematic areas. Collecting student feedback enables course reps… Read More
Reminder: sparqs' CRT is open to book! 11 Sep 2024
In case anyone missed our last articles, just a reminder that bookings are open for Course Rep Training during 2024-25 ....for delivery from week beginning Monday 23rd September 2024 onwards. Our online CRT self-directed module will be available imminently. All the… Read More
Reminder: our October SESN meeting is open to book! 11 Sep 2024
A reminder that our October meeting of the Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) is open for bookings! The next two dates for this academic year have also been set, as noted below. Tuesday 8th October 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the… Read More
Last chance to apply for our Development Consultant vacancy! 11 Sep 2024
The deadline is appoaching for our recruitment for a Development Consultant! Closing date: 9.00am on Monday 16th September 2024. sparqs is a charity funded by the Scottish Funding Council to work with Scotland's university and college sectors. Our mission is to foster… Read More
We have moved office! 28 Aug 2024
At the start of August 2024, we moved into our new offices, downsizing to a more suitable office space. We are pleased to be continuing to share an office with our NUS Scotland colleagues, with whom we work in close… Read More
SESN is back! Save the dates for the 2024-25 meetings! 28 Aug 2024
The Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) is back for academic year 2024-25. Make sure you save the dates in your diary! The October meeting is currently open to book and the others will be opened for bookings nearer the time.… Read More
What is happening with NEON in 2024-25? 28 Aug 2024
Whether you are a returning officer or a newly elected one, please make sure you sign up for NEON – the National Education Officers Network run by sparqs. The network is open to education and representation elected officers in universities… Read More
sparqs is recruiting for a Development Consultant! 28 Aug 2024
We are currently recruiting for a Development Consultant to join our staff team! Closing date: 9.00am on Monday 16th September 2024 sparqs is a charity funded by the Scottish Funding Council to work with Scotland's university and college sectors. Our mission is… Read More
sparqs' support to student officers for 2024-25 28 Aug 2024
As always, during July we sent our annual welcome emails to new and returning student officers with an education remit. The aim is to highlight sparqs' support, relevant resources and forthcoming events that would be useful as part of student… Read More
sparqs' 2024-25 Course Rep Training is open to book! 28 Aug 2024
Bookings are now open for Course Rep Training during 2024-25 ....for delivery from week beginning Monday 23rd September 2024 onwards. All the information you need is on our main CRT webpage. Please read the booking guidance before arranging your sessions and… Read More
SFC guidance on college and university quality arrangements from 2024-25 28 Aug 2024
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has released guidance on the quality arrangements for colleges and universities from 2024-25 – 2030-31. You can view the guidance on the SFC’s newly updated Learning and Quality webpages. The guidance provides information on how… Read More
Round-up of our That's Quality! 2024 events 28 Aug 2024
A round-up from our annual That’s Quality! induction event for new college and university student officers and those who support them. The event is designed to help new officers engage in quality processes at the institutional and national level. The 2024… Read More
College student board member training: 5th September 2024 28 Aug 2024
There's still time to register for the half-day online training for student members of college boards of management, taking place on the morning of Thursday 5th September 2024. This annual induction training is part of the College Development Network’s Governance Development… Read More
Meet our Associate Trainer team for 2024-25 28 Aug 2024
We are delighted to introduce our excellent team of student Associate Trainers (ATs) for the coming academic year. The team includes nine newly-recruited trainers and nine returners from previous years! The team will begin delivering Introductory Course Rep Training (part two)… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Professor Alastair Robertson 08 May 2024
In this interview, we talk to Professor Alastair Robertson, Director of the Graduate School at Glasgow Caledonian University. He was until recently Pro Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at GCU and has 30 years’ experience working in the HE… Read More
Book now for our That's Quality! 2024 event! 08 May 2024
We are pleased to announce that our annual That's Quality! programme for student officers and students’ association staff is now open for bookings! The 2024 event is split into three parts: The first part of That’s Quality! is a half-day, sector-specific online… Read More
Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF) briefing webpage for students, officers and SA staff 08 May 2024
sparqs has been working closely with the Scottish Funding Council on the Tertiary Quality Project and the co-creation of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF), which is the new approach to quality assurance and enhancement for Scotland’s colleges and universities. To provide… Read More
We are still recruiting student Associate Trainers for 2024-25 08 May 2024
sparqs' 2024-25 Associate Trainer recruitment is still open for applications - the deadline has been extended until 9.00am, Monday 27th May 2024! Calling all student reps! Do you have experience as a course/apprentice or other representative role? Will you be a student or apprentice… Read More
Some prompts for planning for the year ahead! 08 May 2024
A few prompts and reminders which might be helpful to students' associations and institutions around this time of year, some of which we’ve already flagged in recent articles…. Course Rep Training planning As noted in our April news article about CRT planning,… Read More
SPOTLIGHT ON... The OU's Virtual Internship Project 08 May 2024
This ‘SPOTLIGHT ON’ features The Open University (OU) in Scotland and its innovative "Virtual Internships for Underrepresented Students" project, which has been recognised for its commitment to inclusivity, winning a sparqs’ Student Engagement Award in the "Diverse Voices" category in… Read More
QAA consultation on UK Quality Code - deadline 17th May! 08 May 2024
QAA has launched a formal consultation on the proposed 2024 edition of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education. The consultation is open until 17th May 2024 and offers the last opportunity for colleagues across the UK to shape the… Read More
sparqs' online and blended learning reflective questions resource 08 May 2024
sparqs is pleased to launch a new online and blended learning reflective questions resource, developed as part of the Tertiary Enhancement Topic project. Based on the recently re-designed Student Learning Experience model, it consists of a set of reflective questions… Read More
Memorial concert for Professor Norman Sharp 08 May 2024
Following the sad passing of Professor Norman Sharp last year, Norman’s family have asked us to share details of a memorial concert taking place on Saturday 25th May. Please feel free to share with sector colleagues who worked with and… Read More
Updated resources for Induction and Outduction of education officers 05 Apr 2024
As the turn of the academic year approaches, it’s a good time for students' associations to start thinking about plans for inducting their 2024-25 education officer(s), as well as the ‘outduction’ of those 2023-24 officer(s) about to finish their term.… Read More
sparqs is recruiting student Associate Trainers for 2024-25 05 Apr 2024
sparqs' 2024-25 Associate Trainer recruitment is open for applications - deadline extended to 9.00am, Monday 27th May 2024! Calling all student reps! Do you have experience as a course/apprentice or other representative role? Will you be a student or apprentice during 2024-25? ....if so,… Read More
Planning for the year ahead: a combined meeting of JAG, NEON and SESN 05 Apr 2024
Following previous successful combined events, sparqs’ three stakeholder forums will gather again in May for a joint meeting to explore sparqs' future work. On Wednesday 8th May 2024 sparqs’ Joint Advisory Group (JAG), National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) and Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) and members of our… Read More
Save the dates for our 2024 That’s Quality! event 05 Apr 2024
We are pleased to announce the confirmed dates for our 2024 annual induction event for student officers and students’ association staff, That’s Quality! The event will once again be split into three parts: The first part of That’s Quality! is a half-day,… Read More
Have your say: Suggest tertiary sector enhancement topics for the coming academic year 05 Apr 2024
QAA Scotland, Education Scotland, College Development Network and sparqs are working together to design a programme of improvement and enhancement activity for Scotland's tertiary education sector. We are doing this to support the work to develop Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement… Read More
Course Rep Training – your plans for 2024-25 05 Apr 2024
This article is a prompt for Course Rep Training Organisers (Representation Co-ordinators and those with similar remits in colleges and universities across Scotland) to consider your plans for delivering Course Rep Training (CRT) during 2024-25, if you haven’t already done… Read More
sparqs' Tertiary Quality Student Expert Group 29 Feb 2024
As the sector continues to work towards developing a single tertiary approach to quality for colleges and universities, sparqs has established a Tertiary Quality Student Expert Group (TQSEG). The rationale in setting up this group was to provide a joined-up… Read More
Next SESN meeting... 19th March 2024 29 Feb 2024
A reminder that registrations are open for the next Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) meeting: Tuesday 19th March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. The meeting will take place via Zoom, from 10.00am to 1.00pm. The agenda… Read More
Understanding the art of blending - publication of a new report! 29 Feb 2024
We are pleased to announce the publication of a pioneering report on designing and delivering an effective and inclusive digital/blended learning offering in Scotland’s colleges and universities, the result of a joint ‘Tertiary Enhancement Topic’ project, instigated by the SFC… Read More
Next NEON meeting on 21st March 2024 29 Feb 2024
A reminder that registrations are open for the next National Education Officers Network (NEON) meeting: Thursday 21st March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. The meeting will take place on Zoom, from 10.00am to 1.00pm. The agenda… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Grit 29 Feb 2024
In this interview, we talk to Ellie Garraway and Jon Down, CEO and Director of Development respectively, at Grit: Breakthrough Programmes, a UK charity working across many levels of education to promote belonging, ownership and engagement in learning. Ellie has worked at… Read More
'Talking Student Engagement' Interview with Megan McClellan 12 Jan 2024
In this interview, we talk to Megan McClellan, former President and Vice-President (Learning and Teaching) at City of Glasgow College Students’ Association. Since the summer of 2023, following her sabbatical terms, Megan has been Policy and Public Affairs Officer for… Read More
New year round-up and team news! 12 Jan 2024
Happy new year from the sparqs team! We hope 2024 has started well for everyone and look forward to working with you all again during the coming year! 2023 was a busy year for us, following our usual hectic summer training… Read More
Update on quality arrangements for colleges 2023-24 12 Jan 2024
While the sector continues to work on a joint approach to quality for colleges and universities, for the current academic year (2023-24) quality arrangements continue to be separate. sparqs has been supporting institutions and students’ associations through these changes, ensuring students… Read More
Next SESN meetings... 13th Feb & 19th March 2024 12 Jan 2024
Registrations are now open for the following two Student Engagement Staff Network (SESN) meetings: Tuesday 13th February 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. Tuesday 19th March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and… Read More
Next NEON meetings on 15th February and 21st March 2024 12 Jan 2024
Registrations are now open for the following two National Education Officers Network (NEON) meetings: Thursday 15th February 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and to register to attend. Thursday 21st March 2024 – online, 10.00am-1.00pm- see the event booking page for details and… Read More
