Understanding the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

1. Understanding the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) • Workshop at the HEA Annual Conference 2013 • Dr Erica Morris and Dr Nikki Spalding • 3 July 2013

2. Aims of the workshop • 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.

3. Overview

4. Background • ‘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)

5. Short activity • 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 pairs

6. About the HEAR • 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

10. Benefits • 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) ‘Bringing it all together’ (2012) http://www.hear.ac.uk/reports

11. Misunderstandings • 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 …?

12. Main activity • 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 Prospective students, current students, senior management, lecturers, teaching support staff, careers advisers, employers

13. Plenary • 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

14. Follow-up 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 HEAR Universities UK and GuildHE (2012) Bringing it all together: Introducing the HEAR. The final report of the Burgess Implementation Steering Group Universities UK (2007) Beyond the honours degree classification. The Burgess Group final report http://www.hear.ac.uk

15. Support for HEAR implementation • Website: www.hear.ac.uk • Information, guidance, • resources, case studies, • scheduled workshops • Enquiries: hear@heacademy.ac.uk

16. Working in partnership to support the implementation of the HEAR across the higher education sector