HEAR AT ULSTER

Presented by Ruth Wasson9th May 2013

HEAR AT ULSTER• Introduction• Background and Context• What is the HEAR?• Why Develop a HEAR?• Benefits for Students and Staff• HEAR at Ulster - The Progress So Far• HEAR…. What’s Next? The Challenges Ahead

HEAR AT ULSTER• Background and Context– Bologna Declaration– Burgess Review (2004)– Burgess Implementation Steering Group (BISG)

(2005)– Steering Group proposals (2007)

HEAR AT ULSTER• What is the HEAR?• The HE White Paper for England (2010) noted– ‘the higher education sector has been developing the

HEAR to provide a richer description of student achievement, including information about module marks, academic credit and other achievements that can be verified by their institution…..we expect to see most institutions developing HEARs for all their undergraduate students from September 2012’

– Core template framework reflecting a more detailed and rounded view of a student’s experience and achievements

HEAR AT ULSTER• Why Develop a HEAR?

• Greater financial investment than ever before.• All stakeholders should have detailed information on

what is behind a particular class of degree.• Students require more than just a certificate.• Employers have clearly defined qualities they are

looking for in graduates.

HEAR AT ULSTER• … So a HEAR =

• Academic Transcript (module marks and grades)• Diploma Supplement• Additional Information esp Section 6.1 a ‘richer picture’

of student achievement, verified additional achievements recorded under on of three headings:– University, Professional and Departmental Prizes– Measured or assessed performance in non-academic contexts

accredited by, or with external accreditation recognised by the University, eg employability awards

– Additional formal roles for which no recognition is provided in terms of academic credit, eg Students’ Union officers.

HEAR AT ULSTER• In Other Words….– The HEAR has 2 main parts:

• Accredited achievements in the formal curriculum• Verified achievements in the co-curriculum

– In Addition:• Template - simple, clear, consistent, stringently defined

with core elements• Electronic – allowing details to be added as a student

progresses through their course• Acceptable, Equitable, Transparent, Reliable,

Administratively Manageable, Motivational and Verified

HEAR AT ULSTER• What are the Benefits for Students and Staff?

– Enhances student experience giving a more holistic and transparent acknowledgement of achievement

– Explicit record of employability skills with evidence– Encourages students to articulate why they are employable– To be used formatively as a means for student development– Encourages students to be reflective– Supports more strategic approaches to public and community

engagement– Strengthens the links between the institution and Students Union– Ulster perspective: Employability is critical, Student Experience,

Widening Participation and Fees Agenda.

HEAR AT ULSTER• HEAR Key Sections– Section 4 Information on the Contents and Results Gained

• Mode of Study• Programme Requirements• Learning Outcomes; Knowledge and understanding of; Intellectual

qualities, Professional/practical skills, Transferrable skills• Programme Details including qualification obtained, date of

award, grading scheme, award classification and Ulster graduate qualities.

– Section 6 Additional Information• Additional Awards, Study Abroad, Personal and Professional

Development, Additional Recognised Activities eg Tutoring in Schools.

HEAR AT ULSTER• HEAR at Ulster – the Progress so Far– Work on the European Diploma Supplement meant

that much information required for HEAR was already available:• Transcripts, University Prizes, Study Abroad, Additional

Awards, eg EDGE– Working with Faculties and Schools, Departments and

Students Union to establish process to allow for verification of additional achievements

– Ensure equity of access– HEAR on Student and Staff Portal– Section 6.1 ‘Live’

HEAR AT ULSTERStudent HEAR Section 1

HEAR AT ULSTERStudent HEAR Section 2

HEAR AT ULSTERStudent HEAR Section 4

HEAR AT ULSTERStudent HEAR Section 4.2

HEAR AT ULSTERStudent HEAR Section 6

HEAR AT ULSTERStaff Portal View

HEAR AT ULSTERStaff Portal View Section 1

HEAR AT ULSTERStaff Portal View Section 4.2

HEAR AT ULSTER• HEAR…..What’s Next?• Challenges ahead– What does Verification look like and who will do it?– Verification of recently approved 6.1 activities– Training and Guidelines– How do we ensure equity of opportunity for all students?– Inclusion of Learning Outcomes, University Prizes,

Placements and Study Abroad– Digital Signature– Scaling up to work for all students– What about part timers, PG students?

HEAR AT ULSTER• Other useful sites– http://www.recordingachievement.org/– http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Pages/

default.aspx– http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources– http://hear.ac.uk/– http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicservices/

student/DipSupp06.pdf