The University of Sheffield’s Vision for the HEAR Dr Helen Tattam h.l.tattam@sheffield.ac.uk AGCAS Formative HEAR Event 29 May 2014, University of Leicester

Overview Background to Sheffield HEAR Project Strategies for supporting student experience & development/career planning Key challenges Your thoughts & experience 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Background Strong support from senior management & Students’ Union Tied in with institutional learning & teaching strategy, including employability agenda & ‘Sheffield Graduate’ concept Employability key aspect of SU development plan Dedicated project support (University & SU) Initial emphasis on 6.1 development & comms HEAR roll out began with 1st years 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Strategies for supporting student experience & development/career planning 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Significance of the HEAR A richer record that can be used to help evidence & articulate a wide range of experience Official ‘snapshots’ before graduation as well as ‘exit’ HEAR Employers expect to reap substantive benefits indirectly The HEAR can be much more than a formal document offering evidence 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Significance of the HEAR Presents academic & extra-curricular achievements together in a single formal document Indicative of wider expectations now associated with higher education Comprehensive scope makes it feel more relevant as a focus for students’ personal development planning If electronically accessible from day 1, to both students & staff, the HEAR can help establish holistic student support Working together towards a single aim, symbolised by the single reference point that the HEAR provides 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

A continual reference point Accessible to both students & staff online from day 1, to support... progress review What’s in my HEAR so far? development planning Where do I want to go? Can the HEAR help me? How? What do I need to do? awareness of learning & skills, e.g. via descriptions of course & 6.1 activities 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Slide with large picture 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Promoting the student experience Online database of verifiable activities Activity verifiers as HEAR ‘champions’ Potential to bring together different aspects of the student experience & build community Students can be a part of this as well as staff Particular potential of social media? Need to realise scope/limitations of HEAR Not everything can be verified (but don’t worry) Importance of CVs, personal statements, portfolios, references 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Encouraging reflection Eventual summative status adds relevance & purpose to conversations about development Students can take action to shape their HEAR Can act as a focus for ‘bite size’ reflection Embedding skills identification & reflection into 6.1 protocols as well as more general tutor discussions 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Key challenges Embedding the HEAR takes time Establishing vision whilst managing expectations Concept can be complicated to explain Students do not add content directly - not like school record of achievement in this respect Not just about Section 6.1 Need to differentiate from existing award schemes Difficult to establish consistent staff engagement (A lot of) staff need to understand concept as well Personal tutoring different across departments 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Key challenges One size does not fit all Avoiding adverse changes to behaviour, e.g. changing spirit of engagement & inviting box-ticking Risk of 6.1 promotion adding too much pressure Risk of 6.1 making students who cannot engage in same way feel disadvantaged (time-intensive/vocational courses, PT students, mature students, students with other commitments) Do your comms reach all student groups? Joining up comms across an institution is difficult… 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Your thoughts & experience What are your aims for the HEAR? What stage are you at? What challenges are you faced with & how do you plan to tackle these? Other thoughts 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Thank you h.l.tattam@sheffield.ac.uk 09/05/2018 © The University of Sheffield