Steering your way through the HEAR EXPECT TO ACHIEVE Steering your way through the HEAR Lysandre de-la-Haye Director of Academic Quality and Deputy Head of Registry,

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Information for students on completion of their studies Indicator 6 When students leave their programme of study, higher education providers issue to them a detailed record of their studies, which gives evidence to others of the students' achievement in their academic programme. Higher education providers have rigorous mechanisms in place to safeguard the integrity of records of students' academic achievements. Detailed records of study are produced not only for students who complete their programme of study but also for those who exit the programme before completion. Students are provided with a record of their academic achievement within a reasonable time of completion or termination of their studies. Higher education providers specify the length of time for which they will archive records of student achievements and communicate clearly their policies for archiving and retrieving such records. Procedures for the issue of replacement records are subject to appropriate checks on the validity of the request. Where providers choose to make available information on their students' non-academic achievements, they ensure that these are a fair and accurate reflection of those achievements. Higher education providers are responsible for ascertaining which laws and regulations apply to them. They may wish to consider the indicative list of regulations, guidance and examples of good practice below. • UUK, The Higher Education Achievement Report, www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/ PolicyAndResearch/PolicyAreas/StudentExperience/Pages/HEAR.aspx.

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Starter Pack Sections 1 – 3 Information held for transcripts and/or Diploma Supplement HESA ID number to be included Access requirements can be covered by link to HEI website.

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Section 4 Mode of Study Programme requirements – The learning Aims and outcomes of the programme Programme details and individual marks/grades/credits obtained (the transcript element) Grading schemes (if available) Classification information on the contents of the programme and results gained Some elements, mode of study, and grading scheme (from academic regulations/programme grading schemes) are relatively straightforward Programme details (module or sub modules marks) can be extracted and adapted from current transcripts/ diploma supplements

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Approaches to Section 4.2 Issues of size, particularly when looking at combined programmes Detail of information Suitability of information and style Differing styles and formats from different programmes What is the best fit for your institution The need for a user friendly (for graduates and employers), version of programmes summaries/specifications How to include non HESA data in the HEAR

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls The need for a user friendly (for graduates and employers), version of programmes summaries/specifications How to include non HESA data in the HEAR Widespread understanding and communication about the HEAR Electronic storage – external storage

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Common information in relation to work based learning, work placements, school experience, study abroad opportunities, electives and dissertation will be covered in the general information provided at the start of section 4.  By removing the above information from the subject specific summaries, more space is therefore available for academic colleagues as the space considerations mean that, in order to keep the section on one page, the following maximum word limits would need to be kept to:  Single Honours and ITE, PGCE, Foundation Degrees and Masters: 550 words Major Routes for Combined Honours: 400 words Joint Routes for Combined Honours: 275 words Minor Routes for Combined Honours: 150 words

Information under three headings Additional Awards EXPECT TO ACHIEVE Section 6 Information under three headings Additional Awards Addition recognised activities University, Professional and Departmental Prizes Additional Awards including the opportunity to include individual units/modules studies in addition to the main programme, if they do not already appear in section 4.3 For example – Chartered Management Institute Awards, Language Certificates Also includes accredited performance in non-academic contexts measured by, or with external accreditation recognised by the institution

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Some University designed awards (such as employability, volunteering, community) Many in existence before the HEAR and may be easily transferred to appear on the HEAR Some institutions have developed their own awards to encompass a range of activities undertaken (e.g. student representation modules/units, Volunteering Awards)

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls University, Professional and Departmental prizes Rewarding both academic and non-academic achievement Do not worry if your institution does not award/offer such prizes ’it is not the policy of the institution to award individual prizes’ Where an institution does not, as a matter of policy, provide any of these opportunities, it should be indicated on the HEAR For this section only – students may indicate any elements they would not wish to be included May include, with student’s permission, a web link to the student’s electronic portfolio (future development)

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls . Additional recognised activities What can be verified What do you wish to verify Are measurements/ratings/gradings included How can the information be verified and if necessary graded

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls The need for a clear, vigorous and understood process Ensure that students have the opportunity to check and agree information held Agreed guidelines for processes without undue bureaucracy Agree what information can be included Ensure points of information (Student Union, Marketing, Admissions) are clear on their role Two headings used: paid and voluntary

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls To simplify the unpaid headings we use: Captain of Sports Club Secretary/Vice Captain of Sports Club Chair of SU Club or Society Secretary of SU Club of Society Student Union Officer Without specifying the particular club, society, or office held, further details can therefore be provided by the graduate if they so wish It was felt strongly that there needed to be a clear indication as to whether the role was paid or unpaid

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Questions Yes No Have you looked at your HEAR? 87% 13% Have you shown it to anyone? 33% 67% Is it important & valuable to employers to have this level of detail? 80% 20% Used for: Job Application (72%), CV (15%), Interview (8%), Further study (5%) How useful to help you find employment? Very/Quite (61%) Not very/Not(39%) Are you happy with the level of detail of your HEAR? 95% 5%

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Make the SU and IT your new best friends Involve Senior Management Involve as wide a representation as possible but have a strong Chair Talk about the HEAR to anyone who will listen and even those who will not!

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls The Support of Senior Managers within institutions Perceived congruence of the HEAR with the institutional agenda – particularly graduate employability Strong, early developed, working relationships between staff in Registry, IT Services, Careers and Learning and Teaching

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Strong support from Student Union Officers within the institution Value of the HEAR meeting Bologna Diploma Supplement requirements Holding of centralised data Ability to make decisions (particularly on inclusion of additional achievements) Emphasis on early moves toward an electronic HEAR rather than paper based variant

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Get a mandate from Academic Board/Most Senior Academic Committee/Directorate for action Ensure a steering/working group/party/ committee or sub-committee wide enough in representation to ensure no one feels left out but small enough to make decisions/recommendations/move implementation forward Named project leader/contact point Ensure colleagues from Careers, Academic areas, Assessments/student records, IT Services, Marketing and Students Union are included in your steering group Delegate tasks

How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls EXPECT TO ACHIEVE How to get there – shortcuts and pitfalls Meet regularly and review progress Set reasonable deadlines but try and keep them on the right side of short Speak softly and carry a big stick only when necessary Test, test and test again