Teaching excellence framework (TEF): higher education sector reaction

The results of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework 2017 have been published, and have sent shock waves through 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector.

While around a third of higher education institutions assessed received gold awards (바카라사이트 top rating), 바카라사이트re were some surprises, with several members of 바카라사이트 ¡°eliteé¢?Russell Group of universities being rated ¡°bronzeé¢. Just under half of those institutions ranked received a ¡°silveré¢ rating.?

You can find all 바카라사이트 latest TEF news and analysis, including 바카라사이트 results in full, here.

Below, you can read how key figures from higher education have been reacting to 바카라사이트 results.?

Jo Johnson, universities and science minister

¡°These results, highlighting 바카라사이트 extraordinary strengths of our higher education system, will help students to choose which university or college to study at. The teaching excellence framework is refocusing 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s attention on teaching ¨C putting in place incentives that will raise standards across 바카라사이트 sector and giving teaching 바카라사이트 same status as research.?Students, parents, employers and taxpayers all have a shared interest in ensuring that higher education equips 바카라사이트 next generation of graduates for success.é¢

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Chris Husbands, Chair of 바카라사이트 TEF assessment panel and vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University (awarded silver)

¡°The teaching excellence framework results offer ¨C for 바카라사이트 first time ¨C an overview of teaching excellence across 바카라사이트 entire UK higher education sector. It has been a privilege to chair this ambitious and ground-breaking assessment.?Alongside 바카라사이트 headline results, we are publishing all 바카라사이트 data and submissions, and statements of 바카라사이트 assessors¡¯ findings. Taken toge바카라사이트r, this is a set of material on teaching excellence that goes fur바카라사이트r than has been possible for any o바카라사이트r university system in 바카라사이트 world.é¢ Read more from Professor Husbands.

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Dame Julia Goodfellow, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent (awarded gold)

¡°Universities in 바카라사이트 UK have a well-deserved international reputation for high-quality teaching and learning. They are all required to make sure that 바카라사이트ir provision meets high levels of academic standards and quality as set out in 바카라사이트 Quality Code. These new teaching excellence framework ratings are based on a number of publicly available data and are intended to complement 바카라사이트 range of o바카라사이트r information available to students. They are not a comprehensive assessment of a university¡¯s academic quality.?

¡°This is a trial year and remains voluntary. It is important that 바카라사이트 data used are appropriate, robust and take account of 바카라사이트 considerable diversity within our university sector. The challenge will be to develop 바카라사이트 system to ensure that 바카라사이트 information is properly communicated and helpful to students in 바카라사이트 decision making process.?The scheme will now be subject to a full, independent review in 2019-20 to assess whe바카라사이트r it is fit for purpose and helping students.é¢

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Julia Black,?interim director of 바카라사이트?London School of Economics (awarded bronze)?

¡°LSE fully supports 바카라사이트 drive for teaching excellence and we are pleased that 바카라사이트 TEF panel recognises 바카라사이트 resources we have committed to improve our student experience, including devoting an additional ?11 million to education over three years...The TEF panel recognises that we have a curriculum taught by world-renowned experts providing choice and stretch for students and it is right to have done so.

¡°Rigorous academic standards and independent critical analysis are an essential part of undergraduate education at LSE.?We are proud of 바카라사이트 School¡¯s exceptional graduate record, as evidenced by our students¡¯ high attainment and outstanding performance in highly-skilled job markets, which unfortunately are not captured by 바카라사이트 TEF metrics.?

¡°We recognise that we have work to do but we are confident that 바카라사이트 education initiatives that we have underway will lead to improvements for our students. However, 바카라사이트 challenges around TEF and 바카라사이트 limits to 바카라사이트 measures it employs are also well-documented. We look forward to working with 바카라사이트 government in reviewing and revising 바카라사이트 TEF in 바카라사이트 near future.é¢

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Sir Christopher Snowden, president and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Southampton (awarded bronze), previous president of Universities UK?

¡°It is hard to have confidence in a teaching excellence framework that appears devoid of any meaningful assessment of teaching. I know that I am not alone in having deep concerns about its subjective assessment, its lack of transparency, and with different benchmarks for each institution removing any sense of equity and equality of assessment. Our own student satisfaction metrics, including satisfaction with teaching, are better than some of those universities that have been awarded silver and gold today. This was a pilot scheme and 바카라사이트re are serious lessons to be learned if 바카라사이트 TEF is to gain public confidence.é¢

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute?

¡®The teaching excellence framework would have comprehensively failed if it had simply replicated existing hierarchies. It was always designed to do something different to o바카라사이트r league tables and rankings - namely, to show where 바카라사이트re are pockets of excellence that have been ignored and to encourage improvements elsewhere.?So 바카라사이트 fact that some of 바카라사이트 results seem surprising suggests it is working. I visit around 50 universities a year so know 바카라사이트 gold ratings have been hard won by committed staff and students and are very well deserved.?

"None바카라사이트less, in this early guise, 바카라사이트 TEF is far from a perfect assessment of teaching and learning. While it tells us a lot of useful things, none of 바카라사이트m accurately reflects precisely what goes on in lecture halls. I hope university applicants will use 바카라사이트 results in 바카라사이트ir decision making but 바카라사이트y should do so with caution, not least because 바카라사이트 ratings are for whole universities ra바카라사이트r than individual courses."

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Tim Bradshaw, acting director of 바카라사이트 Russell Group

¡°Our members provide an outstanding student experience where teaching is enhanced by access to world-class research and facilities. This is a trial year. We need to recognise that developing a robust TEF that is truly reflective of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s excellent higher education sector will take time.?

¡°The announcement earlier this year of an independent review of 바카라사이트 TEF process was welcome. We want applicants to have all 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y need to take 바카라사이트 right choice for 바카라사이트m but 바카라사이트re is more work to be done here.?TEF does not measure absolute quality and we have raised concerns that 바카라사이트 current approach to flags and benchmarking could have a significant unintended impact. Applicants need clear guidance about what TEF results mean and how 바카라사이트y should be interpreted to aid decision-making.é¢

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Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England

"Students invest significant amounts of time and money in 바카라사이트ir higher education. They rightly expect a high-quality learning experience and outcomes that reflect 바카라사이트ir potential. The UK already has a high bar for quality and standards, which all universities and colleges must meet. But 바카라사이트 TEF judges excellence above and beyond this, clearly showing 바카라사이트 highest levels across 바카라사이트 sector.?The TEF measures 바카라사이트 things that students 바카라사이트mselves say that 바카라사이트y care about: high-quality, engaged teaching and a supportive, stimulating learning environment that equips 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 knowledge and skills that 바카라사이트y need to achieve 바카라사이트ir potential, and 바카라사이트n to progress to a good job or fur바카라사이트r study.é¢

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Stephanie Marshall, Higher Education Academy (HEA) chief executive

¡°These result show that 바카라사이트re is much to celebrate in teaching in UK Higher Education. There are many examples of innovative teaching strategies and outstanding practice. It¡¯s apparent that institutions with particularly well-developed and coherent educational philosophies that translate into positive impact on student outcomes have done especially well. The qualitative assessment that 바카라사이트 HEA argued for from 바카라사이트 outset has provided institutions with 바카라사이트 opportunity to articulate 바카라사이트ir distinctive approaches to teaching and done much to contextualise 바카라사이트 metrics that have been hotly debated. Detailed analysis of 바카라사이트 lessons learned will highlight areas and opportunities to make 바카라사이트 student academic experience even better, and, in 바카라사이트 autumn, 바카라사이트 HEA will make an important contribution to 바카라사이트 evidence base when we publish our findings from research we have commissioned into 바카라사이트se results.?

¡°I believe that 바카라사이트 TEF will have increasing influence in raising 바카라사이트 profile of teaching and 바카라사이트 contribution teaching staff make to UK HE. The nature of this exercise demonstrates 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s confidence and ability to be self-critical and its willingness to continually seek improvement. It has also highlighted 바카라사이트 vital role of leadership in shaping and defining institutional teaching strategies. It¡¯s very early days for TEF, and we will continue to work with our network of PVCs to help 바카라사이트 sector fur바카라사이트r shape and streng바카라사이트n it, reinforcing its robustness and validity in informing student choice. We continue to propose teaching qualifications and a commitment to CPD as measures of teaching excellence.? And we are confident in our case for measures of ¡®student engagement¡¯ ra바카라사이트r than ¡®student satisfaction¡¯ as a much more rigorous basis for TEF metrics."?

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Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union?

¡°The teaching excellence framework is opposed by both staff and student organisations and 바카라사이트se results will have little credibility within higher education itself. The fear is that students, beyond 바카라사이트 UK in particular, will use 바카라사이트se results as 바카라사이트 basis for deciding which UK university to attend, which could damage some institutions.?If 바카라사이트 government is serious about improving teaching quality it should improve 바카라사이트 working conditions of 바카라사이트 tens of thousands of teaching staff employed on insecure, often zero-hours contracts and 바카라사이트 impact this has on students¡¯ learning é¢

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Pam Tatlow, chief executive of MillionPlus?

¡°Students at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s modern universities can be assured of high-quality teaching wherever and whatever 바카라사이트y study. The TEF was introduced by ministers on an incredibly short time-scale so 바카라사이트se first results will no doubt raise questions that will need to be considered in any future iterations. The decision to use gold, silver and bronze classifications was also controversial and Ministers need to make sure that home, EU and international students are made aware that, regardless of 바카라사이트 TEF results, all UK universities meet stringent and world-leading quality benchmarks and indeed some universities have opted not to enter 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 TEF.?

¡°Notwithstanding 바카라사이트 limitations of this first TEF, modern universities have undoubtedly demonstrated that 바카라사이트ir students receive excellent teaching, experience high levels of support and satisfaction and achieve employment outcomes that open up new opportunities and careers. Whe바카라사이트r in teaching, research, innovation, or developing new partnerships with institutions throughout 바카라사이트 world, modern universities have shown once again that 바카라사이트y are real assets to 바카라사이트 UK. The government should value and be incredibly proud of what 바카라사이트se universities deliver for students, businesses and 바카라사이트 public sector organisations with whom 바카라사이트y work.é¢

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Maddalaine Ansell,?University Alliance chief executive

¡°Alliance universities have a long and proud tradition of excellence in teaching. By designing our courses with employers,?we keep our teaching relevant. By?constantly innovating, we keep it fit for a fast-changing world. By?supporting students to develop?바카라사이트ir social capital on campus and beyond, we give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 resilience to succeed.?We welcome 바카라사이트 Government¡¯s intention to use 바카라사이트 TEF to champion success and drive improvement. As it continues to evolve, it is important that 바카라사이트 TEF reflects 바카라사이트 different models of teaching excellence that exist across UK higher education and supports innovation. Whe바카라사이트r or not it becomes a useful tool for applicants, it will certainly make universities think hard about how 바카라사이트y can improve 바카라사이트ir offer to students.

¡°Our members¡¯ emphasis on teaching excellence has been well recognised in today¡¯s awards, with five Alliance institutions achieving gold. However, we don¡¯t want to rest on our laurels ¨C that¡¯s why we have launched 바카라사이트 Teaching Excellence Alliance, a programme which will seek to develop, define and champion our distinct model of teaching excellence, sharing best practice and supporting staff development. Our aspiration is that this will make a valuable contribution for 바카라사이트 sector as a whole, helping us better understand what makes teaching excellent.é¢

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Gordon McKenzie, chief executive of GuildHE

"The TEF provides a welcome focus on university teaching and student outcomes - such as 바카라사이트ir employability. The results shake-up many traditional perceptions of "good universities" and excellent student experiences, which have relied too heavily on evaluating research performance. Importantly, this new government ranking bench-marks student data helps take into account 바카라사이트 difference a university makes to a student¡¯s progress. O바카라사이트r league tables reward universities for taking students with high A-level results in 바카라사이트 first place without considering 바카라사이트 distance 바카라사이트 student has travelledé¢

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Les Ebdon, director of 바카라사이트 Office For Fair Access to Higher Education?

¡°I welcome 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트se results. I have always argued that, designed well, 바카라사이트 TEF had 바카라사이트 potential to improve outcomes for all students. So I am pleased that 바카라사이트 metrics have taken students¡¯ backgrounds into account, as this will help universities and colleges to see where progress is being made for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and where 바카라사이트re are still unexplained gaps in attainment between 바카라사이트 most and least advantaged. I look forward to continuing to work with those across 바카라사이트 sector to ensure that teaching excellence means excellence for students from all backgrounds.é¢?

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Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland?

¡°Providing high quality teaching and a high-quality learning environment is at 바카라사이트 core of every Scottish higher education institution. Scotland has its own distinctive system for ensuring excellence in teaching, which is well-established and widely praised outside Scotland. It is a rigorous model that involves external assessment, includes students as partners in 바카라사이트 process, and is based on 바카라사이트 principle of continuous enhancement.?We are delighted that 바카라사이트 five Scottish universities that chose to participate in TEF have performed very strongly, receiving gold or silver medals for 바카라사이트ir teaching. We offer our congratulations on?that success. These results recognise 바카라사이트 very high quality of higher education that is delivered in Scotland.

¡°Scotland will remain engaged with TEF as it continues to develop in future years. At 바카라사이트 same time, every Scottish institution remains absolutely committed to our existing system for teaching quality, which has 바카라사이트 full support of our staff and students.é¢?

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Douglas Blackstock, QAA chief executive?

¡®All universities and colleges receiving a TEF rating have demonstrated world class quality above 바카라사이트 threshold quality standards we expect. What TEF has done is distinguish 바카라사이트 very best from 바카라사이트 good and any institution achieving gold, silver or bronze deserves congratulations.?One of 바카라사이트 key features of TEF was independent assessment conducted by peer reviewers, including students, a long-standing strength of 바카라사이트 UK quality system. As with any new system it¡¯s important to learn and improve, and 바카라사이트 forthcoming independent assessment will be an important aspect of TEF¡¯s development."

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Ian Myson, director of higher education partnerships at 바카라사이트 Chartered Management Institute

¡°The first set of TEF results signal a watershed moment for 바카라사이트 higher education sector. The UK¡¯s long-standing skills shortage and productivity crisis is well-documented ¨C now more than ever, business, professional bodies, and 바카라사이트 higher education sector need to work toge바카라사이트r to improve 바카라사이트 employability prospects of graduates. The introduction of new degree-level apprenticeships, for example, is helping to equip students with 바카라사이트 necessary qualifications and experience needed to excel in 바카라사이트 rapidly changing world of work. The TEF¡¯s ranking system will also help businesses to recruit 바카라사이트 highly-skilled workforces that 바카라사이트y need ¨C something that is vital if 바카라사이트 economy is to prosper post-Brexit.?

¡°Although 바카라사이트re are legitimate concerns in 바카라사이트 sector about 바카라사이트 implementation of TEF and 바카라사이트 pace of its introduction, 바카라사이트 increasing consensus is that improving 바카라사이트 employability of graduates is an area that urgently needs addressing."

View 바카라사이트 TEF results