Departmental Councils card sort - sparqs

Representation at the departmental level – also known as faculties or schools – is a crucial lynchpin between strategic, institution-wide committees and those operating at a course level.
One way of developing this level of representation is through departmental councils. However, the way such councils work can incorporate a very wide range of models which will vary according to institutional and departmental practices and cultures.
This tool, taken from sparqs’ departmental representation toolkits, consists of eight pairs of cards. Each pair represents two opposite approaches to a particular feature of a departmental council. You can use these cards to consider the merits of each opposite and agree your own form of wording. Taking each agreed statement together will create a clear picture of how you want departmental councils to develop.
It is suggested that those with a responsibility for departmental-level representation as well as senior staff and student officers should be involved in working through these cards.
Item Number:208
- Student Guide to Institutional Liaison Meetings - sparqs
- Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER) - Practical Guide for students’ associations and student officers - sparqs
- Self-Evaluation and Action Plan (SEAP) - Practical guide to student partnership - sparqs
- An induction guide for Academic Representation Co-ordinators - sparqs
- A guide to inducting students association education officers - sparqs
- Supporting the future careers of SA education officers: outduction toolkit - sparqs et al
- Academic Development Toolkit - sparqs
- Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF) - Guidance for Elections - sparqs
- Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) - Practical Guide to student partnership - sparqs
- Using the SLE model as a Course Rep 2025-26 - sparqs
- Online Student Learning Experience Model - Perth College UHI
- Student Partnership Staircase - sparqs
- ABCD of Effective Feedback - sparqs
- Theory of partnership: Ladder of Citizen Participation - Sherry R Arnstein
- Students as active partners in shaping their learning experience - Leeds Trinity University College
- Understanding the SU's key relationships: The Cadogan Matrice
- Grid for developing tools of feedback from students - sparqs
- Framework for the Development of Strong and Effective College Students
- A Student Engagement Framework for Scotland - sparqs and sector partners
- Engaging Students in Online Distance Learning - sparqs
For all resources published by sparqs, see the "sparqs Resources" category in the list on the left, including the following:
- Student Learning Experience model
- Scotland's Ambition for Student Partnership
- A Student Engagement Framework for Scotland
+ resources linked to the SEF - Academic Development Toolkit
- ABCD of Effective Feedback
- Student Partnership Staircase
See all sparqs publications (Strategic Plans, celebration reports, etc.) here.
