1. HEAR AT ULSTER
Presented by
Ruth Wasson
9th
May 2013

2. HEAR AT ULSTER
• Introduction
• Background and Context
• What is the HEAR?
• Why Develop a HEAR?
• Benefits for Students and Staff
• HEAR at Ulster - The Progress So Far
• HEAR…. What’s Next? The Challenges Ahead

3. HEAR AT ULSTER
• Background and Context
– Bologna Declaration
– Burgess Review (2004)
– Burgess Implementation Steering Group (BISG)
(2005)
– Steering Group proposals (2007)

4. HEAR AT ULSTER
• What is the HEAR?
• The HE White Paper for England (2010) noted
– ‘the higher education sector has been developing the
HEAR to provide a richer description of student
achievement, including information about module
marks, academic credit and other achievements that
can be verified by their institution…..we expect to see
most institutions developing HEARs for all their
undergraduate students from September 2012’
– Core template framework reflecting a more detailed
and rounded view of a student’s experience and
achievements

5. HEAR AT ULSTER
• Why Develop a HEAR?
• Greater financial investment than ever before.
• All stakeholders should have detailed information on
what is behind a particular class of degree.
• Students require more than just a certificate.
• Employers have clearly defined qualities they are
looking for in graduates.

6. HEAR AT ULSTER
• … So a HEAR =
• Academic Transcript (module marks and grades)
• Diploma Supplement
• Additional Information esp Section 6.1 a ‘richer picture’
of student achievement, verified additional
achievements recorded under on of three headings:
– University, Professional and Departmental Prizes
– Measured or assessed performance in non-academic contexts
accredited by, or with external accreditation recognised by
the University, eg employability awards
– Additional formal roles for which no recognition is provided in
terms of academic credit, eg Students’ Union officers.

7. HEAR AT ULSTER
• In Other Words….
– The HEAR has 2 main parts:
• Accredited achievements in the formal curriculum
• Verified achievements in the co-curriculum
– In Addition:
• Template - simple, clear, consistent, stringently defined
with core elements
• Electronic – allowing details to be added as a student
progresses through their course
• Acceptable, Equitable, Transparent, Reliable,
Administratively Manageable, Motivational and
Verified

8. HEAR AT ULSTER
• What are the Benefits for Students and Staff?
– Enhances student experience giving a more holistic and transparent
acknowledgement of achievement
– Explicit record of employability skills with evidence
– Encourages students to articulate why they are employable
– To be used formatively as a means for student development
– Encourages students to be reflective
– Supports more strategic approaches to public and community
engagement
– Strengthens the links between the institution and Students Union
– Ulster perspective: Employability is critical, Student Experience,
Widening Participation and Fees Agenda.

9. HEAR AT ULSTER
• HEAR Key Sections
– Section 4 Information on the Contents and Results Gained
• Mode of Study
• Programme Requirements
• Learning Outcomes; Knowledge and understanding of; Intellectual
qualities, Professional/practical skills, Transferrable skills
• Programme Details including qualification obtained, date of
award, grading scheme, award classification and Ulster graduate
qualities.
– Section 6 Additional Information
• Additional Awards, Study Abroad, Personal and Professional
Development, Additional Recognised Activities eg Tutoring in
Schools.

10. HEAR AT ULSTER
• HEAR at Ulster – the Progress so Far
– Work on the European Diploma Supplement meant
that much information required for HEAR was already
available:
• Transcripts, University Prizes, Study Abroad, Additional
Awards, eg EDGE
– Working with Faculties and Schools, Departments and
Students Union to establish process to allow for
verification of additional achievements
– Ensure equity of access
– HEAR on Student and Staff Portal
– Section 6.1 ‘Live’

11. HEAR AT ULSTER
Student HEAR Section 1

12. HEAR AT ULSTER
Student HEAR Section 2

13. HEAR AT ULSTER
Student HEAR Section 4

14. HEAR AT ULSTER
Student HEAR Section 4.2

15. HEAR AT ULSTER
Student HEAR Section 6

16. HEAR AT ULSTER
Staff Portal View

17. HEAR AT ULSTER
Staff Portal View Section 1

18. HEAR AT ULSTER
Staff Portal View Section 4.2

19. HEAR AT ULSTER
• HEAR…..What’s Next?
• Challenges ahead
– What does Verification look like and who will do it?
– Verification of recently approved 6.1 activities
– Training and Guidelines
– How do we ensure equity of opportunity for all students?
– Inclusion of Learning Outcomes, University Prizes,
Placements and Study Abroad
– Digital Signature
– Scaling up to work for all students
– What about part timers, PG students?

20. HEAR AT ULSTER
• Other useful sites
– http://www.recordingachievement.org/
– http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Pages/default.as
px
– http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources
– http://hear.ac.uk/
– http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicservices/studen
t/DipSupp06.pdf