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

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• 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: hear@heacademy.ac.uk

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Working in partnership to support the implementation of the HEAR across the

higher education sector