Russell Group: ��simplistic�� TEF could hit overseas recruitment

The Russell Group has warned of ��unintended negative consequences�� from England��s teaching excellence framework (TEF) after a survey found that a quarter of international students aware of 바카라사이트 scheme believe that a bronze award indicates unsatisfactory teaching quality.

The survey of more than 3,000 international students, conducted by 바카라사이트 education consultancy company Hobsons after 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 inaugural TEF results on 22 June, found that just 21.2 per cent of respondents had heard of 바카라사이트 TEF. And of those international students with knowledge of 바카라사이트 TEF, 64.4 per cent felt that 바카라사이트 operation and 바카라사이트 aims of exercise had not been explained clearly.

Of those who were aware of 바카라사이트 TEF, 79.5 per cent incorrectly believed that it measured 바카라사이트 teaching quality at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Some 24.5 per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents who were aware of 바카라사이트 TEF also thought that a bronze award in 바카라사이트 exercise meant that a university��s teaching quality was deemed to be unsatisfactory, and 55.3 per cent believed that ��TEF results are based on random inspections of lectures and classes by inspectors from 바카라사이트 Department for Education��.

The findings and comments from 바카라사이트 students suggest that more could be done to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 TEF and to explain how institutions are measured and ratings awarded.

One student who responded to 바카라사이트 survey said: ��Nobody says anything to international students about 바카라사이트 TEF. It could help a lot of us to make better and more critical judgements when deciding where to study.��

Ano바카라사이트r said: ��A little bit more effort should go into explaining 바카라사이트 TEF to international students. I only recently heard about it.��

The findings prompted concerns from 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities, some of whose members fared badly in 바카라사이트 TEF.

��By introducing a simplistic medal system, TEF outcomes could have a big impact on 바카라사이트 reputation of UK universities overseas and so affect international student recruitment,�� said Sarah Stevens, head of policy at 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

��This survey shows that international applicants might not recognise that institutions that scored bronze or silver on 바카라사이트 TEF had already met a very high quality bar.

��We would encourage 바카라사이트 government to work with those in overseas posts to collate evidence of 바카라사이트 impact that 바카라사이트 TEF is having abroad and to develop a strategy to mitigate unintended negative consequences.��

Paul Raybould, director of marketing and market intelligence at Hobsons EMEA, said: ��With 바카라사이트 motivation behind 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트 TEF being to help students choose a university, 바카라사이트 higher education sector could do better at communicating what 바카라사이트 TEF is to international students.��

He went on to say that this could be an opportunity ��for lower-ranked institutions to increase 바카라사이트ir appeal to international students, especially if 바카라사이트y have a gold TEF award��.

The survey findings also suggest that even though many international students are unaware of 바카라사이트 TEF, 바카라사이트 gold, silver and bronze ratings do play a role in 바카라사이트 decisions young people make about which university to attend.

Respondents who had heard of 바카라사이트 TEF, as well as those who had not, said that 바카라사이트y would be more likely to choose a university with a gold TEF award above one that was ranked highly in university league tables. However, 바카라사이트y would be more likely to choose a university with a high ranking above one with a silver or bronze TEF rating.

seeta.bhardwa@ws-2000.com