4.1  Getting started with Going Higher

The Going Higher for Student Carers: Recognition Award encourages universities to adopt a sustainable, whole-institution approach to identify, support and report on student carers. The award is currently funded by the Scottish Funding Council and, as we saw in Section 1, they have built the award into their Outcome Agreements with universities.

In this video we meet Steven, Student Success Advisor at Heriot Watt University, who talks about the benefits of the Going Higher process and the partnerships they developed as a result. He also suggests using your best asset: student carers.

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Transcript: Video 4.1  Pursuing the Going Higher Award

STEVEN NICHOLSON
Pursuing the Going Higher Award was a great opportunity for Heriot-Watt University to gauge what our strengths were and what our points for development were when supporting student carers. Throughout the process, we were able to network with other universities, support organisations like the Carers Trust Scotland, smaller local organisations, and through that, we were able to develop partnerships which were able to grow and develop even now after we’ve achieved the award because the process doesn’t stop there, it’s about keeping that momentum going and building those partnerships even further.
The biggest piece of advice I would give to another university pursuing the award would be use your best resource and asset, and that’s your student carers. Use their insight and their knowledge, and get them to review the work that you are developing, whether it’s wording or phrasing of content or copy that you’re going to be releasing, whether it’s imagery that you’re going to be sending out on email communications or video developments, use their insight.
End transcript: Video 4.1  Pursuing the Going Higher Award
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Video 4.1  Pursuing the Going Higher Award
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Going Higher Award Achieved logo

Activity 4.1  The Going Higher toolkit

Timing: Allow 10–15 minutes
By signing in and enrolling on this course you can view and complete all activities within the course, track your progress in My OpenLearn Create. and when you have completed a course, you can download and print a free Statement of Participation - which you can use to demonstrate your learning.

2) Where is your university on the journey to gaining the award?

Click where your university is in the progress table below to reveal advice for next steps to take.

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An image of five cards. There is an arrow beneath each card which starts yellow but turns green when you click on each card, and then gives information about what to do at that stage.

Card one says: Not started. When you click on the card, it says: This section should provide plenty of information and ideas to get you started.

Card two says: Just starting. When you click on the card, it says: This section should provide resources and ideas to help you progress.

Card three says: Generating and collecting evidence. When you click on the card, it says: You’re well on your way. This section will help you reflect on what you’ve done so far and what else you can do to support your application.

Card four says: Submitted application. When you click on that card, it says: Well done! The submission represents a huge amount of work but it’s a good idea to continue reflecting and improving support for student carers.

Card five says: Gained Going Higher Award. When you click on the card, it says: Congratulations!! You’re getting recognition for all the work you’ve done to improve support for student carers. This isn’t the end of the journey though – this section can help you reflect on your support for student carers and how you can continue to improve.

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  • If your university doesn’t have the award yet complete the activity in Part A.

  • If your university already has the award skip to the activity in Part B.

Introduction

4.2  Part A: Student Carer Policy