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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell
@hisasimon.bsky.social
460 followers 380 following 350 posts
Director of Student Engagement & Representation (“dosser”) at @thinkuhi.bsky.social’s Students' Association. Arnstein's Ladder stan account. PFHEA. Masters in Student Engagement. Ex-sparqs. He/him. Inverness, Scotland. Personal: @simonvarwell.bsky.social
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Feb 3
I've set up a starter pack for student engagement and partnership - in all its myriad forms! Fire away if you can suggest someone I should add (or have embarrassingly failed to add you!). go.bsky.app/5jFu51s
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 7d
Some really useful research from Josh and I am looking forward to getting stuck in. Nice to see @thinkuhi.bsky.social cited as a model.
joshpatel.bsky.social
Dr. Josh Patel (he/him) @joshpatel.bsky.social · 8d
New from me:

Tertiary pathways in practice: Institutions’ views of partnerships between HE and FE in Scotland and England

Collaboration in competitive systems driven by resource scarcity rather than alignment to regional/national agendas. Full report:

www.edge.co.uk/research/pro...
Tertiary pathways in practice
www.edge.co.uk
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Reposted by Simon Varwell
collegesscot.bsky.social
Colleges Scotland @collegesscot.bsky.social · 8d
We've got a vacancy for a Corporate and Governance Manager. Find out more and how to apply bit.ly/4nxnvP4
Vacancies
Colleges Scotland is the collective voice of the college sector in Scotland; striving to create cohesive and sustainable partnerships, demonstrate positive impa
bit.ly
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 9d
That will be great to read! You're performing a public service, Hugh. Much appreciated.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 9d
Ah yes I read (and enjoyed) that at the time. Sorry I was meaning specifically HTC.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 9d
I enjoyed reading this piece by @jimdickinson.bsky.social not for the core point (about English student funding) but the wider examination of practice including the trip down memory lane of the Cubie report. Takes me back to my student officer days and the great campaigning we did on this in '99.
wonkhe.bsky.social
Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 10d
NEW on Wonkhe: I have a lot of questions about the LLE buff.ly/dbBjjPJ
hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 9d
This is the really interesting (if grim) beginning of what I am sure will be a big and important series.
wonkhe.bsky.social
Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 10d
NEW on Wonkhe: Debbie McVitty introduces the first tranche of findings of the Wonkhe HE staff survey, exploring quality of work against a backdrop of financial pressure buff.ly/KDJPywf
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 9d
Based in our @uhiinverness.bsky.social office today (forgot to take a photo on my way in). Lots of meetings, but always nice when here to bump into so many staff and students. Really thrilled (and proud of team) about our recent successful by-election here. hisa.uhi.ac.uk/news/article...
Meet Your New Inverness Depute President!
The results of the Inverness Depute President By-Election are now live!
hisa.uhi.ac.uk
hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 9d
Another of @thinkuhi.bsky.social! An interesting if comparatively short history - the youngest partner of UHI (excluding later mergers), and the only one founded with that modern idea of UHI in mind. Are you working on a corresponding article?
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 9d
All the very best Julia!
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Reposted by Simon Varwell
nstepie.bsky.social
National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP) @nstepie.bsky.social · 10d
WE ARE NOW PODCASTERS 👏 Check out our episode from the RAISE Conference on NStEP to date, next steps and the future of student engagement in Ireland

open.spotify.com/episode/3ozJ...
Episode 4 - NStEP at 10: Reflections, Strategy, and the Future of Student Engagement.
open.spotify.com
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 23d
Quite the story.
emmajanepettit.bsky.social
Emma Pettit @emmajanepettit.bsky.social · 23d
A palate cleanser (kind of): I wrote about a student government election that went totally off the rails, at Ohio State University. There were claims of wrongdoing, counterclaims, counter-counterclaims, appeals to authority, to civil rights orgs, and more:

www.chronicle.com/article/camp...
When a Student-Government Election Becomes ‘All-Out War’
Is what happened at Ohio State University a cautionary tale about cutthroat ambition — or frightened administrators?
www.chronicle.com
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 24d
As ever, this is very good. Not all mergers or reform processes go smoothly, to plan, to time etc, and not all of them are entirely focussed on students as focus let alone agent. For instance we are arguably still, a decade later, settling the dust of college regionalisation.
jimdickinson.bsky.social
Jim Dickinson @jimdickinson.bsky.social · 24d
NEW on Wonkhe: While university mergers promise unification without disruption, Jim Dickinson examines a wealth of European evidence that warns otherwise – and argues that students must be true partners in shaping what comes next buff.ly/m0xM520
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Reposted by Simon Varwell
alistairking.bsky.social
Alistair King @alistairking.bsky.social · 29d
Merging the Universities of Kent and Greenwich creates the UK’s most geographically spread-out higher education institution, does it, #r4today?

I think the University of the Highlands and Islands wants a word. www.uhi.ac.uk/en/
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Reposted by Simon Varwell
shonamaclean.bsky.social
Shona MacLean @shonamaclean.bsky.social · 29d
Have just read on the BBC that "the UK's first 'super-university', stretching across an entire region" is to be creaed by merging the universities of Kent and Greenwich, and I'm thinking it's a shame they've never heard of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · 28d
Fascinating to see institutional collaborations and transformations move seemingly at pace...
wonkhe.bsky.social
Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 29d
NEW on Wonkhe: The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent are moving together into a single governance structure. Mark Leach and David Kernohan report on the sector's first "super university" buff.ly/gY6lqqA
hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 9
We are underway with (day 1 of our) @uhiinverness.bsky.social main campus Welcome Fayre! Lots of clubs, societies, services and community groups, and a real buzz all round. It’s busy on the HISA stall too.
An elevated view of a college atrium with lots of stalls and tables, with lots of people talking at them. The srudents’ association stall with lots of students talking to the HISA team.
hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
Head - and virtual notepad - ringing with ideas, links, contacts and more as I head home after a very enjoyable #RAISE25. Well done the @raise-network.bsky.social team for throwing together such a fabulous conference. It's a busy time of year but always worth stepping back, reflecting and learning.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
Intrigued by @uofglasgow.bsky.social’s new strapline. #RAISE25
A photo of a computer desktop with the university of Glasgow logo (its name) and underneath it says “Please restart after use”.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
The final part of #RAISE25 is a panel of sector voices including my HISA colleague Aimee, plus @jimdickinson.bsky.social. Good to hear their thoughts on the big and sometimes very scary issues facing student engagement in our sector.
A view of a panel in a conference room. There are five people on it. They’re also replicated on a large overhead screen.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
Yes given me food for thought about how we interrogate what students might say as feedback on their learning. Reminds me also of the Question Formulation Technique stuff I have been dabbling in over the past while, about how we develop ways of digging into what's important.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
Lovely and empowering workshop from @unabridgedopinions.com on how to communicate, and how to ask the right questions of those we support. Thanks Jennie and nice to see you albeit on-screen! #RAISE25
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
In a workshop about power, and… more Arnstein! #RAISE25
Two people presenting a slide in a seminar room. There’s a five-stage adaptation of Arnstein with stages of community participation on the screen.
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
Duncan's also arguing students need to be more audacious and adversarial. That's a good point: honest feedback shouldn't be timid. Of course it needs to be constructive but he rightly points out that if we aren't full in student feedback we get stuck in the same loops. #RAISE25
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 5
A good opening session at day 2 of #RAISE25 - an in-depth dive into student voice at @uofglasgow.bsky.social including a very honest student panel. Nice to hear SRC President Duncan argue that "you said, we did" is dated. Firm agree: we are (or should be) way beyond such transactionalism... I hope!
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hisasimon.bsky.social
Simon Varwell @hisasimon.bsky.social · Sep 4
Loved being a part of day 1's closing keynote panel with Ashley Storer-Smith and Jill LeBihan with whom I've enjoyed working on a @qaa.ac.uk-funded UK-wide student rep audit. Also enjoyed getting one or two responses on improving my lightbulb moment, back of the envelope grid. #RAISE25
raise-network.bsky.social
RAISE Network @raise-network.bsky.social · Sep 4
@simonvarwell.bsky.social asking for help in the co-creation of this slide! The idea being, within #HE there are no unimportant roles. Student roles should not be undervalued, they may not have traditional hours or responsibility in the "big job" category, but their voice is key. #RAISE25
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