Information for staff

The Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is designed to replace the existing transcript (and subsume the Diploma Supplement).  It has been introduced in over 90 Universities and Colleges and reflects the belief that a degree classification alone cannot do justice to the knowledge, skills and experience gained by Brunel students, although the degree classification will continue to be of significance.  Employers and postgraduate admissions tutors are interested in a much wider range of graduate capabilities than those captured purely in marks and grades, although these will remain an essential element of the HEAR.

Brunel University London has chosen to undertake a ‘phased implementation’ of the HEAR and undergraduates who enrolled on a full programme of study in September 2012 and onwards will be eligible to a complete copy of the HEAR when they graduate.  From July 2016 this will be in electronic format. What is the enhanced transcript and how does it differ from the HEAR?

The HEAR will be produced in full for undergraduates who complete their programme of study in 2015 and onwards. At the end of each academic year until graduation such students will have access to an enhanced transcript which contains some elements of the HEAR such as ‘additional recognised activities’.

All staff (academic and administrative) will be expected to have awareness of the HEAR and its importance to Brunel students and how they can contribute. 

Programme leaders/directors have been required to draft information for section 4.2 of the HEAR which details the programme requirements. How to access more information on this can be found at the foot of this guidance note.

First by raising student awareness of the HEAR and its benefit to their employability and / or access to postgraduate study.

By directing students to these web pages.

By directing students to the myriad of activities that can be undertaken to augment the section on additional recognised activities – there are now in excess of 200.

Each Department has its own ‘HEAR champion’.

Brunel Volunteers; the Professional Development Centre; and the Union of Brunel Students all have local champions that can provide advice and guidance. The HEAR web page provides information how students make contact with these bodies.

For the HEAR to be effective students will need to take ownership of their report.  For many this will document activities that they are already undertaking.  For others this will provide a stimulus to engage in additional recognised activities such as volunteering, taking an active part within the UBS or other recognised club, society or department based activity.

Only recognised activities will be included.  These have been formally agreed by the University and are detailed in the Protocols for the approval of Additional Activities and Awards, HEAR Section 6.1 which is available on the HEAR web page. The list of activities approved for inclusion in Section 6.1 of the HEAR will be reviewed annually by the Education Enhancement Committee and is also available to view on the HEAR web page. Those wishing to introduce a new HEAR activity should complete a ‘HEAR activity approval form’ which is available from the Quality Assurance web pages.

The University has an established procedure for the approval of new activities.  There is a guidance note in the form of a ‘protocol’ which outlines the expectation and also a simple form to be completed.  The new activity has to be approved at the Department Academic Committee and at the College Education Committee before final approval by the University Education Enhancement Committee.  The protocol for the approval of a new HEAR activity can be accessed here, and the form which will need to be submitted can be downloaded here. Further guidance can be sought from Secretary of the Student Experience and Welfare Committee, Jelisha Catnott at jelisha.catnott@brunel.ac.uk.  

There is an automated process that links recognised activities through to the student record held on SITS.  There is an e-Vision application which allows students to view their record.

Recognised activities are verified through an agreed process between the Education Enhancement Committee and the body recording the activity.

Full details of recognised activities can be found on our HEAR web page. 

As detailed above, it is recognised that a degree classification cannot do justice to the knowledge, skills and experience gained by Brunel students, although the degree classification will continue to be of significance.  Employers and postgraduate admissions tutors are interested in a much wider range of graduate capabilities than those captured purely in marks and grades, although these will remain an essential element of the HEAR.

A group of employers formed part of the network of stakeholders that influenced the creation of the HEAR. To get a flavour what an employer thinks see the video clip on our HEAR web page. 

From July 2016 all graduates from undergraduate programmes can access their HEAR on line (previously this was hard copy only).  They will have the capability to include or exclude recognised activities through the e-Vision application. This is a simple process whereby students can select or de-select previously selected activities. The detail contained in the enhanced transcript and later the HEAR will be sealed just prior to the end of the academic year. Hard copies will be provided at a cost of £60 per copy.