The Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) is a new project, which will replace the existing degree certificate, given to students when they graduate. The University of Sheffield are part of a national scheme with many other Universities who will be launching the HEAR in September 2012. The University are committed to continually improving students' experience at Sheffield and think the HEAR will help improve graduate employability.

All undergraduates starting in 2012 will get the HEAR. It will provide a more detailed record of their achievement at University, not just related to their course studies. For example, the HEAR could record a Skills for Work certificate or employment as a Student Ambassador.

This is an exciting new project and the best thing about it is that the University, in partnership with the Students' Union will be able to give detailed recognition of students' achievements in extra curricular activities, see the Recognition for Extra Curricular Activities section below.

The HEAR is just designed to be a complementary document and is by no means a replacement for a CV. For help putting together a CV, visit the Careers Service.

If you have any questions regarding the HEAR document as a whole, email hear@sheffield.ac.uk.

Section 6.1 of the HEAR will have a record of individuals' achievements in extra curricular activities. Every 2012 undergraduate will get the HEAR document; they will be able to chose which of their extra curricular activities, that the University verify, will appear on their HEAR Section 6.1.

Sarah Goss, the new HEAR 6.1 staff member based in the Activities & Sports Zone, will be getting in contact with societies and working committees. She'll be finding out what they do and whether their activities can be recognised in the HEAR 6.1 and therefore (in accordance with the Institutional Protocol):

• Broaden intellectual, civic, socio-cultural or international understanding
• Demonstrate responsibility, leadership, excellence or innovation
• Contribute to the University community

Sarah will then, with the help of current committee members, be setting some specific criteria which future committee members will need to meet, in order to have their extra curricular achievements recognised on the HEAR.

We're always looking for feedback, so if you have any comments, please email sarah.goss@sheffield.ac.uk.

Q I'm at Sheffield University at the moment, can I get the HEAR?

A No, the HEAR is only available to new undergraduate students, arriving in September 2012.

Q How is the HEAR different from the Sheffield Graduate Award?

A The Sheffield Graduate Award recognises a broad spectrum of activities from six areas; Enterprise, Student Jobs and Work Experience, Volunteering, Cultural and Social, Internationalisation and The University and its Community. This is an award and in order to obtain it, students must provide evidence that they have undertaken at least four of these activity areas and submit a reflective portfolio detailing what they feel they have gained from their experiences in these areas. The HEAR is an official University document that all 2012 undergraduates will receive, some students will have more in Section 6.1, which demonstrates that they have significant achievements (that the University can verify) in extra curricular activities. Click here for more information on the Sheffield Graduate Award.

Q Will the Sheffield Graduate Award still be available to new students?

A Yes, the Sheffield Graduate Award will still be available and this can be verified on students' HEAR documents too.

Q I'm starting my postgraduate degree at Sheffield in September 2012, will I be able to get the HEAR?

A No the HEAR will only be available to undergraduate students who start their degree in September 2012.

Q Will new students still need to write a CV if they have the HEAR?

A Yes! the HEAR is by no means a replacement of a CV, it is a complementary document which will provide verification of any extra curricular achievements you may have, which students will be able to expand upon in more detail on their CVs.

Q Some members of my committee aren’t graduating until 2013 onwards, will they be eligible for the HEAR?

A No, the HEAR will be available for new undergraduate students starting at The University of Sheffield in September 2012. The University won’t be retrospectively verifying students’ extra curricular achievements from previous years, so we need to start the HEAR with a brand new intake of students.

Q I'm starting my undergraduate degree in September 2012 at the University of Sheffield and plan to return home to continue volunteering at my local Oxfam shop in the summer. Could this be included in my HEAR 6.1?

A Unfortunately this would not be included in your HEAR 6.1 directly, because it's not something run by the University or Students' Union and so they can't verify it. You could however use this valuable experience to count towards a Skills for Work certificate or the Sheffield Graduate Award which will both look great on your HEAR 6.1. Click here for more information on the Skills for Work certificate.

Q I'm chair of a political society and worried that future students may not want to take on this position if it has to be disclosed on their HEAR. Can they choose for this not to be mentioned?

A Yes, new undergraduates will opt-in to have anything (that is verified as an achievement by the University) mentioned on Section 6.1 of their HEAR, so it's completely up to them if they choose not to add something.

Q Most of the people on my departmental society committee do a four year course with a Masters combined, will they get the HEAR?

A Yes, all students on combined degree programmes will still receive the HEAR.

If you have any questions, please send an email to sarah.goss@sheffield.ac.uk.