The Value of Higher Education - It's Up To You.

Already introduced at the University of St. Andrews  and with 90 other Universities signed up, the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is set to get students thinking about all the things they can squeeze out of university apart from just a degree certificate.

The HEAR is a six page electronic document intended to provide a single comprehensive record of a student's (full time, part time undergraduate and postgraduate) achievement at University. It will adhere to a common structure and be verified by the academic registrar. Apart from details of your degree programme, which employers are particularly interested in, it also includes information on activities such as prizes, volunteering, internships, sport, widening participation activities, additional study, etc.. Any omissions on your part may then cause concern to employers so you may want to think how you are going play this.

Although not compulsory for students, GRB thinks this is a positive step in raising awareness and thus encouraging students to build their skills in preparation for employment. This is echoed by NUS, Employers and intermediaries who have been closely consulted throughout the process to get it right for everyone involved in education and recruitment. GRB recently attended a consultation on online graduate recruitment and how HEAR would be used. Around the table it was viewed positively as long as students and employers take it seriously - more information is a good thing when it comes to matching graduates to employment as it enables a recruitment consultant to better "sell" your skillset.

Fee paying students are very much in the driving seat as they embark in the new world of Higher Education from September 2012. Some quarters may view HEAR as a way for Universities to justify these fees through this "itemised" list of benefits but we want to know if you are aware of HEAR and if so what do you think?

PS. There's more info here: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/hear