A Quick Guide to HEAR

HEAR stands for Higher Education Achievement Report and is an approach specifically designed to record student achievement during higher education to potentially benefit students, employers and institutions. Yes, it’s like that strange folder containing all your certificates achieved at school, except more important. In a nutshell, it’s a good thing! Unfortunately, this isn’t a subject even we can dress up as exciting. So sit tight, stay awake, and enjoy the ride.

What is HEAR?

Although this type of report is in its early stages of development and currently being introduced in universities across the country, it is an excellent way to show recognition for commitments and achievements made by students while at university. As we’re always looking to bring the latest info to the Coursefindr site, here is our rundown of HEAR.

Since the model’s development by the European Commission, UNESCO and Council of Europe it has become a national requirement. The High Education Academy (HEA – or Higher Education Army, as we like to call them) is now providing support and focus to ensure it is implemented and maintained to ensure academic and non-degree related achievements are recorded.

University degrees are becoming more and more common and with the economic market being in its current state and fewer jobs available upon graduation, a degree will no longer set you apart from others competing for the same jobs. As such, standing out is vital; extracurricular activities do just that, and HEAR will inform employers of your extra achievements.

“If you’re about to start an undergrad degree, you can look forward to receiving your HEAR at the end of your degree. Whoopie!”

Who Gets HEAR?

A report is created for any undergraduate student enrolled on their course for the first time since the 2011-2012 academic year. That means if you’re about to start an undergrad degree, you can look forward to receiving your HEAR at the end of your degree. Whoopie! Unfortunately enrolment on some courses may not be eligible so it may be an idea to check with your institution or on the HEAR website. You receive your report upon completion of your programme from your institution once it is compiled to include your module results. You don’t even need to lift a finger!

Academic Achievements

The report will include your individual achievement as a student and will give employers a breakdown of your grades, giving them more insight into your programme and the modules you studied. By providing employers with a breakdown of your course and the marks you received across the board it will highlight your strengths and weaknesses during your studies.

Extra curricular

HEAR provides graduates with much more than just a final grade upon completion of their degree. The report provides an extended breakdown of a graduate’s university transcripts, including modular results, sporting activities and achievements, voluntary programmes and positions held while at university e.g. course representative and student union positions. The report shows all of the elements of your time studying which will impress a potential employer.

Joining societies that will impress future employers is therefore a good move to make. At the very least take part in multiple extracurricular activities so you have more than ‘dungeon master for dungeons and dragons society’ on your HEAR.

When you applied for university you will have wrote a personal statement about why you were the perfect candidate for your chosen course, when you write a CV you also write a personal statement about why you would be the perfect person to employ for that position. Those personal statements often include extracurricular activities, voluntary positions, experience and any extra qualifications you have achieved; HEAR allows any of these achievements you have to be recorded in one place, documented in detail by your institution for potential employers to be impressed by.

What types of activities count towards HEAR?

There are a huge number of ways to expand your HEAR and make yourself more employable in the eyes of an employer. You could become an officer of a club or society showing you can work in positions of power within that group. You can sign up for voluntary work which must be recognised by the Voluntary Services at your institution; universities often hold volunteer fairs which will give you a variety of charities or activities in which you can get involved which will count towards your report. You can also have other non-degree related achievements which are included in your HEAR, these can include scholarships received for merit while studying, prizes you have received, roles as student ambassadors or mentors, and much more depending on your institution.

Every university is different and may include different aspects in your report. If you want to improve your report and fill it with important and worthy activities and achievements then it may be in your interest to enquire as to what qualifies towards HEAR at your university. Drinking will not qualify. HEAR is an excellent reason to engage in what is happening on your campus and gives you the initiative needed to participate.

As a student, if you know about HEAR before you start your course, or at least earlier in your degree, you will certainly be able to use it to motivate yourself into joining clubs, taking part in extracurricular activities and finding a volunteer position. You should use HEAR as incentive to get involved and make a difference.

Receiving your HEAR

Your HEAR report will be issued to you upon completion of your degree. This official record will be provided to you in the form of a digital HEAR document and will be available to you to share with future employers as evidence of your achievements at university. Your university will supply you with this document when it has been compiled after course completion.

Use the HEAR to showcase yourself in the future; take the time to do plenty of extracurricular activities to fill your report and get involved with your students union. You want to show prospective employers that you are unique, self-motivated and a team player, and your report can help you do just that. The more you can do now to improve your employment prospects the better. Get out there and fill your report, you’ll thank us later!