Understanding the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) Workshop at the HEA Annual Conference 2013 Dr Erica Morris and Dr Nikki Spalding 3 July 2013
Dec 29, 2015
Understanding the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)Workshop at the HEA Annual Conference 2013
Dr Erica Morris and Dr Nikki Spalding 3 July 2013
• To enhance awareness and understanding of the HEAR
• To provide an opportunity to consider relevant communication strategies relating to developing the HEAR within an institutional context.
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Aims of the workshop
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Overview
Timing Session
12.00 pm Background to the HEAR
12.10 Short activity: what about the HEAR?
12.15 About the HEAR: benefits, misunderstandings
12.20 Main activity: developing a communications strategy
12.45 Plenary
1.00 Follow-up, close
• ‘Beyond the honours degree classification’– A case for change – Proposing a HEAR– Burgess Group final report
(2007)• ‘Bringing it all together’
– Recommends key bodies ‘commend the HEAR to be adopted sector-wide’
– Building on trialling of the HEAR
– The final report of the Burgess Implementation Steering Group (2012)
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Background
• What do you know about the HEAR?
• What about your institutional context:– Is the HEAR currently
being implemented?– Is the HEAR being issued
to students?– How does the HEAR
relate to other initiatives within your institution?
Discussion in pairs5
Short activity
• An electronic document that provides a single comprehensive record of a learner’s achievement
• Includes: academic work, extra-curricular activities, prizes, employability awards, voluntary work, offices held in student union clubs and societies
• Can function as a formative tool to be used during a student’s time within higher education
• Made available on graduation to enable a student to present a wide range of achievements to employers and postgraduate tutors
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About the HEAR
• Students: as a tool that can enable them to identify, appreciate and reflect on the variety of attributes and skills developed through their higher education experiences
• Employers: can become more aware of the employability awards of institutions, and what these awards entail and cover to enhance students’ learning
• Institutions: vehicle to demonstrate the full range of opportunities, providing clarity and relevant information relating to a broader conception of student achievement (than a degree classification)
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Benefits
‘Bringing it all together’ (2012) http://www.hear.ac.uk/reports
• The HEAR …– will replace the need for
staff to write references– is a replacement for CVs– is to be used instead of
GPA, or is not compatible with GPA
– That employers will not want to look at it
– Other common misunderstandings …?
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Misunderstandings
• Communications strategy– Consider your target
audience– Identify key benefits and
message– Potential opportunities
and challenges – Tailoring your
approach and message
– Evaluating approach
Working in small groups
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Main activity
Prospective students, current students, senior management, lecturers, teaching support staff, careers advisers, employers
• Critically aware of misunderstandings and miscommunications about aspects of the higher education sector
• Working in partnerships to develop communication strategies
• The ‘voice’ of key partners: stakeholder perspectives and experiences
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Plenary
The HEAR Starter Pack – designed to support institutions and organisations they work with (e.g. third party software providers)The HEAR self-assessment framework – developed to help HEIs assess their readiness through questions to implement the HEARUniversities UK and GuildHE (2012) Bringing it all together: Introducing the HEAR. The final report of the Burgess Implementation Steering GroupUniversities UK (2007) Beyond the honours degree classification. The Burgess Group final report
http://www.hear.ac.uk14
Follow-up
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Support for HEAR implementation
Website: www.hear.ac.ukInformation, guidance,resources, case studies,scheduled workshops
Enquiries: [email protected]