QAA compassionate communication report puts student feedback into message design

Updated Oct 27, 2026

QAA's compassionate communication report gives universities a practical reason to examine how student feedback shapes the messages they send. Announced on 7 October 2026, the Scottish project connects clear communication with supportive institutional processes.

What the QAA compassionate communication report adds

The full report draws on five roundtables and a session with sparqs' Tertiary Quality Student Expert Group. QAA Scotland engaged with 218 attendees from 39 institutions, spanning staff and student representative roles. Facilitators' notes and Padlet contributions were analysed thematically.

On page 15, participants describe student panels reviewing messages, templates developed with students' associations, and policies rewritten using student feedback. They also stress recognition for contributors and accessible participation. QAA's announcement connects communication with the systems behind it: a considerate message cannot compensate for an unsupportive process. Its summary states:

"Clarity is a fundamental part of compassion"

The project's resource page lists the report and before-and-after examples, both published on 7 October. Further resources are planned across 2026-27, including a student co-creation toolkit in spring 2027. The work was developed for Scotland, with lessons QAA says apply across the UK.

References

[Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education]: "New research reports effective practices and ongoing challenges in compassionate communication" Published: 2026-10-07

[QAA Scotland]: "Compassionate Communication in Scotland's Tertiary Sector" Published: 2026-10-07; document dated October 2026

[QAA Scotland]: "Compassionate Communication" Initial resources published: 2026-10-07; resource page checked: 2026-10-09