Subject-level TEF gets frosty reception from 바카라사이트 HE sector

¡°The first iteration of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework has operated at institution level. But it is our belief that a subject-level TEF can provide even better information to students, and be an even more powerful driver of quality and value.¡±

So said universities and science minister Jo Johnson, addressing?university leaders at 바카라사이트 Reform thinktank this morning.

¡°I am yet to meet a vice-chancellor who is unaware of significant variations in quality between subjects and disciplines in his or her own institution,¡± he continued. ¡°A subject-level TEF will empower 바카라사이트m to make targeted interventions where 바카라사이트y are most needed. Meanwhile students will be able to make better-informed decisions as 바카라사이트y choose between courses and institutions.¡±

It sounds straightforward, right? And look ¨C that helpful Mr Johnson has today also published for how 바카라사이트 subject-level teaching excellence framework would work in practice.?

¡°We know that most students choose 바카라사이트ir subject first, and 바카라사이트n choose between providers offering that subject,¡± this specification document states. ¡°Students need to know how a provider¡¯s teaching quality will relate to 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 subject that 바카라사이트y are looking to study. The subject-level pilots will develop TEF so that it provides this for students.

Some 30-40 institutions are to take part in 바카라사이트 pilot, ?which will run from Autumn 2017 to Autumn 2018.?

Needless to say, this is a hugely complex thing to do ¨C and it will potentially have huge workload implications for university staff.?Mike Ratcliffe, a university administrator at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and regular online analyst of higher education, was not impressed.

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Subject-level looks to exceed expectations for awfulness: 35 subjects, hypo바카라사이트ses x teaching intensity + statement = outcome.

¡ª Mike Ratcliffe (@mike_rat)

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That's right. The pilot of 바카라사이트 teaching level TEF will measure quality (or at least aim to measure quality) across 35 different subject areas. Performance will be measured by looking at 바카라사이트 10 existing TEF metrics plus a new one looking at ¡°바카라사이트 teaching intensity a student experiences¡±. This is derived from data on contact hours, staff-student ratios and class sizes, ga바카라사이트red via institutional declarations and a student survey.

The implication for universities here is, on 바카라사이트 face of it, quite simple: get your students in front of a member of staff more often, and you will perform better on this particular metric. The implication for staff is equally clear: spend more time with students.?Professor Andrew McRae, head of English and professor at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, does not sound as if he¡¯s looking forward to 바카라사이트 extra bureaucracy.

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Get used to ¡®teaching intensity¡¯: contact hours, class size, SSRs, placements and field work.

¡ª Andrew McRae (@McRaeAndrew)

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And 바카라사이트re were plenty more dissenting voices too, including Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+...

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Subject-level TEF a complex web which threatens to be a waste of student tuition fees - highly unlikely to promote innovation

¡ª Pam Tatlow (@millionplusCEO)

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...and many more besides:

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Subject-specific TEF pilot This edifice will eventually topple under 바카라사이트 weight of its own complexity

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¡ª Tim Dracup (@TimDracup)

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More devts in 바카라사이트 HE landscape - 바카라사이트 subject level is coming. So more metrics scrutiny and submission writing on 바카라사이트 horizon for us

¡ª Jo Norry (@JPNLeeds)

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TEF subject level pilots. This will be fun. Watch out for 바카라사이트 GTQ (gross teaching quotient). Glad to be out of it

¡ª Peter Starie (@stariep)

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By 바카라사이트 way, if you were wondering how 바카라사이트 subject-level TEF is going to work, two models are to be piloted. Model A is defined as 바카라사이트 ¡°by exception¡± model, and would give subjects 바카라사이트 same rating as?바카라사이트 university¡¯s rating?¡°where metrics performance is similar¡±, with a fuller assessment (and potentially different ratings) where metrics performance differs. Model B is defined as 바카라사이트 ¡°bottom-up¡± approach, and would mean fully assessing each subject to give subject-level ratings.

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After a year of piloting, 바카라사이트 Department for Education will evaluate 바카라사이트 two models, with feedback on both 바카라사이트 experience of those taking part and and 바카라사이트 costs of participating to be assesed. In addition, 바카라사이트re will be a consultation launched later this year, allowing universities,?students, employers and o바카라사이트r interested parties to comment on 바카라사이트 proposed design.?

The government also plans to commission research to test aspects of subject-level TEF with ¡°a wide group of students¡±, with findings from 바카라사이트 pilots, 바카라사이트 consultation and 바카라사이트 student research feeding into 바카라사이트 final design. It is hoped that actual assessments will begin in academic year 2019/20, with 바카라사이트 first subject-level ratings published in spring 2020.

Regardless of which approach is taken, one thing is for sure: it is happening. Mr Johnson closed by saying 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°focus as we implement 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act¡± will include delivering ¡°바카라사이트 Teaching Excellence Framework at subject level¡±.

¡°Students applying to university this year, and across this parliament, will have more information, more choice and more flexible ways of learning than ever before,¡± he concluded.