Non-formal Achievement in the HEAR: An Institutional Approach Richard Gill Planning and Project Officer Keele University

Keele’s approach  Identify the challenges  Develop protocols  Develop process 2

3 Issues  Diversity of stakeholder interests  Data quality and availability  Data verification and assurance  Timeliness and Longevity  Relationship with PDP/CV  Institutional document vs student document

4 Challenges Uniformity Equality Factual Qualitative Person-led Academic Single Honours Diversity Discriminatory Opinion-based Quantitative Discipline-led Vocational Dual/Joint Honours

Protocols  Two layers:  Layer 1 – Institutional (what we can include)  Layer 2 – Specific (how we include it) 5

6 Layer 1 Protocols 1.The activity is verifiable and is endorsed by the University. 2.The opportunity to undertake the activity is open to all students, in principle. 3.Information included is presented factually, not opinion- based. 4.The activity/outcome is a direct part of the academic programme. 5.The role/activity/outcome is defined by regulation. 6.The role/activity/position supports a University process, which is normally determined by election (student) or University nomination. 7.The activity/role supports wider University policy and strategy.

Layer 2 Protocols (example) Student Societies:  The position must be within a Students’ Union society.  The position must be recorded in the approved version of the Committee’s constitution.  The post-holder must have been elected to the post.  The post-holder must have held and contributed to the post for a minimum of one semester. 7

Process: Capture and Authentication  Activities recorded by relevant sections  List of activities submitted to the University Learning and Teaching Committee for approval (first year)  Lists of activities provided to a University Officer with delegated powers of approval (thereafter) 8

Findings 9 Easy  Scholarships  Prizes  Language study  Study abroad  Sabbaticals  WP activities  Volunteering Challenging  Student course reps  Sporting achievements  Employability skills  Graduate Attributes “Keele added value”

Issues for consideration  Do the protocols and approval process work? Do they cover all aspects of HEAR?  How to manage and maintain student “buy-in”? Diversity vs Equality?  How to retain institutional distinctiveness within a sector wide approach? 10