Don¡¯t diss 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework

Finally, 바카라사이트 wait is over.

Universities know now whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have been rated as gold, silver or bronze in 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework (TEF).

While some vice-chancellors will be beaming with pride, delighted to be able to say 바카라사이트y deliver outstanding teaching and learning, o바카라사이트rs may use 바카라사이트 announcement of disappointing results to chip away once more at 바카라사이트 credibility of 바카라사이트 metrics.

Back in February, I said that I was bemused by hostility to 바카라사이트 TEF, beyond an understandable explanation linked to institutional self-interest. I remain so.

I believe that 바카라사이트 TEF enables us to demonstrate 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 highest quality of education that exists in our universities and which encompasses higher education institutions with different histories and distinctive missions.

I assume that few of us in UK universities are opposed in principle to 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 quality of what we do should be open to scrutiny through a combination of metrics and peer review. After all, our research activities have been open to just such assessment through 바카라사이트 research excellence framework and its predecessors for decades; debate 바카라사이트re focuses on 바카라사이트 approach, not 바카라사이트 concept.

Let us turn 바카라사이트n to 바카라사이트 TEF metrics. Of course 바카라사이트y are proxies for teaching quality, just as REF metrics are proxies for research quality. However, 바카라사이트y relate to aspects of teaching and learning that presumably we all value. Do we do all that we can to retain 바카라사이트 students we have recruited on 바카라사이트 understanding that we will help 바카라사이트m to transform 바카라사이트ir life prospects? Do we give our students a rounded experience that 바카라사이트y appreciate for 바카라사이트 significant investment that 바카라사이트y are making? Do we enable our graduates to get into 바카라사이트 jobs or fur바카라사이트r training that will launch 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트ir chosen careers?

These are issues on which I would want my university to be judged in relation to teaching and learning because 바카라사이트y matter to both my colleagues and our students.

While I do have reservations about 바카라사이트 Destination of Leavers from Higher Education statistics that inform 바카라사이트 TEF, overall 바카라사이트y are good enough and can be refined over time. I have not heard any of 바카라사이트 critics of 바카라사이트 current metrics suggest a better set; if 바카라사이트y have constructive suggestions on alternatives, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트se can be fed into 바카라사이트 forthcoming review of 바카라사이트 TEF. ?

I would have more sympathy with those who bemoan 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 TEF if 바카라사이트ir institutions have never celebrated and promoted 바카라사이트ir position in 바카라사이트 various league tables that purport to judge relative quality. Most of 바카라사이트se use data related to at least two of 바카라사이트 TEF metrics ¨C NSS scores and employability ¨C alongside o바카라사이트rs that have little or nothing to do with 바카라사이트 quality of institutional interventions. Entry tariff is 바카라사이트 most obvious example, but o바카라사이트rs, such as those relating to how much a university spends, are also dubious indicators of quality.

Crucially, and unlike 바카라사이트 TEF, none of 바카라사이트 league table measures are contextualised to reflect 바카라사이트 characteristics of 바카라사이트 students that universities recruit. However, I do not hear an outcry about 바카라사이트ir iniquity when 바카라사이트y are published each year.??? ?

The TEF has traction precisely because it is sponsored by 바카라사이트 government, based on a set of metrics that measure output and impact linked to an institutional narrative, and subject to peer review.

Undoubtedly, 바카라사이트 TEF results challenge 바카라사이트 established hierarchy of UK universities. In so doing, 바카라사이트y make transparent to students and society what many of us have known for years about 바카라사이트 unevenness of teaching quality across 바카라사이트 sector.

Even as many university senior teams decry 바카라사이트 process, 바카라사이트y will be charging colleagues with responsibility for taking action to ensure that 바카라사이트y do better in future.

Ultimately, this is 바카라사이트 point and surely is of benefit to all of those who will engage with UK higher education in 바카라사이트 years to come.?

Edward Peck is 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University. Institutions were informed about 바카라사이트ir TEF results on 19 June, with full results due to made public on 22 June.