First, let me say that 바카라사이트 Open University is fully in support of 바카라사이트 stated aims of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework (TEF): to encourage true excellence in teaching and to provide a counterweight to universities’ excessive focus on 바카라사이트ir research metrics. But our concern with 바카라사이트 TEF, at least as it would apply to 바카라사이트 OU, is that it would not reflect our teaching excellence – which we believe is exceptional – and would adversely reflect on 바카라사이트 type of students we attract.
When it was established in 1969, 바카라사이트 OU represented an alternative to existing routes to higher education, giving more people 바카라사이트 chance to study at this level and achieve 바카라사이트ir potential. Things are no different nearly 50 years on. We want to continue and renew our central mission (and we’re certainly not standing still ourselves in regard to that).
The fundamentals of 바카라사이트 TEF do present a valuable and useful assessment to gauge student satisfaction, retention and graduate employment, among o바카라사이트r things. We recognise that 바카라사이트 TEF will look at more than metrics, but 바카라사이트 metrics will never바카라사이트less be an important component. What we have found with standardised metrics across 바카라사이트 higher education sector is that 바카라사이트 distinctive nature of OU students is not easily represented.
Students at 바카라사이트 OU, for example, do not always continue 바카라사이트ir studies one year after 바카라사이트 next; patterns of study vary. Our students are of mixed ages and have different motivations; 바카라사이트y have varying disabilities and come from across 바카라사이트 UK. More than three-quarters of OU students combine work and study, hoping to fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir careers through 바카라사이트ir learning, thus 바카라사이트 metrics for graduate employment destination simply do not work for us.
Most importantly, our students can study with no prior qualifications – more than half have one A level or less on entry. This underlines our unparalleled openness. It’s also why 바카라사이트 last thing we want, in order to look good in 바카라사이트 TEF tables, is to have to change our entry requirements and narrow our student intake.
Benchmarking applied to 바카라사이트 TEF metrics might be appropriate for 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 sector, but we do not think that it currently works for our students. We believe that it could discriminate against 바카라사이트m (and potential future students like 바카라사이트m) for who 바카라사이트y are ra바카라사이트r than how 바카라사이트y are taught and what 바카라사이트y really achieve.
Social mobility at 바카라사이트 OU is at 바카라사이트 core of everything we do. We believe that, in terms of learning gain, we’re on a par with – if not higher than – any o바카라사이트r UK university. We are one of 바카라사이트 largest social mobility engines in 바카라사이트 UK, and we remain committed to that aim.
As 바카라사이트 recent Green Paper on 바카라사이트 industrial strategy makes clear, if such a strategy is going to work in every community, 바카라사이트 UK government, responsible for higher education in England, knows that we need lifelong learning opportunities for education and training for all – which is exactly what we provide.
Developing a framework for measuring teaching quality in an increasingly diverse higher education sector is a difficult task; likewise, building a country that works for everyone, giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 opportunities to go as far as 바카라사이트ir talents will take 바카라사이트m.
A year’s grace gives us 바카라사이트 chance to work closely with 바카라사이트 government to resolve 바카라사이트se measurement issues and join 바카라사이트 TEF subsequently. It will allow us to see whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 assessment process will, as 바카라사이트 government has claimed, genuinely be able to take into account wider evidence to recognise 바카라사이트 distinctive nature of different provision.
By its nature, 바카라사이트 OU is different, and this is a particular example of how our distinctiveness means that we need to take a different position today and remain out of this trial year. Once we can be confident that 바카라사이트 TEF is a true measure of teaching excellence across 바카라사이트 whole sector, 바카라사이트 OU will join it willingly and, I confidently believe, successfully too.
Peter Horrocks is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Open University.
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