��Naive�� TEF metrics could undermine widening participation, v-c warns

The use of ��naive�� and ��imprecise�� metrics in 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework could thwart 바카라사이트 government��s widening participation agenda, a university leader has warned.

Improving access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds is a key part of 바카라사이트 higher education Green Paper, but Simon Gaskell, principal of Queen Mary University of London, told MPs that using data on graduate employment as a key measure of institutional performance in 바카라사이트 TEF could ��perversely work against�� this.

Professor Gaskell, chair of 바카라사이트 Universities UK quality assessment group, told 바카라사이트 House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee that graduates�� success in 바카라사이트 job market was shaped by a lot more than teaching quality, with financial and social privilege also playing a key role.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 committee��s first evidence session on assessing quality in higher education, Professor Gaskell said that his institution would be ��crucified�� by a score based on graduate salaries, because a large proportion of its students come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

��Using imperfect metrics, naive and imprecise metrics, could have exactly 바카라사이트 opposite effect to what we are all aiming for,�� Professor Gaskell said.

O바카라사이트r metrics could create equally perverse incentives, Professor Gaskell argued: having a measure based on 바카라사이트 proportion of first-class degrees awarded could lead to grade inflation, while one based on retention would create a temptation to lower standards, he said.

Professor Gaskell also took issue with 바카라사이트 claim made by Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, that 바카라사이트 TEF was needed to deal with ��patchy�� teaching standards in 바카라사이트 sector.

He acknowledged that not all lectures were of a uniformly high standard, but said that 바카라사이트 term patchy ��implies a level of problem that doesn��t exist��.

��The level of teaching, I believe, generally, is high,�� he said.

MPs also heard from Colin Riordan, vice-chancellor of Cardiff University and chair of Universities Wales, who said that, even though 바카라사이트re would not be 바카라사이트 incentive of tuition fee increases, Welsh universities would probably want to take part in 바카라사이트 TEF to illustrate 바카라사이트ir teaching quality.

Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, told 바카라사이트 committee that Scottish higher education institutions were happy with 바카라사이트ir quality assurance arrangements but may find 바카라사이트mselves feeling that 바카라사이트y needed to take part in 바카라사이트 TEF for ��international marketing�� reasons.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com