Higher education Green Paper: TEF paves way for variable fees

The teaching excellence framework is set to allow most English universities to increase 바카라사이트ir tuition fees in line with inflation from 2017-18, with institutions being invited to apply for subsequent awards that pave 바카라사이트 way for variable fees.

The government¡¯s higher education Green Paper proposes that providers that have met or exceeded expectations in all sections of a recent Quality Assurance Agency review (or equivalent) would be considered to have achieved a ¡°Level 1 TEF award¡±, allowing 바카라사이트m to increase fees beyond ?9,000 in line with inflation up to a cap to be set by ministers, for a three-year period.

Most universities would qualify. Of 바카라사이트 24 that were reviewed by 바카라사이트 QAA in 2014-15, only one received an unsatisfactory judgement.

In subsequent years of 바카라사이트 TEF, institutions would be able to apply for perhaps three fur바카라사이트r levels, which would be judged on a series of metrics on student outcomes, plus submitted evidence, including whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 provider is using 바카라사이트 grade-point average system of degree classification.

The government¡¯s preference is for judgements about teaching excellence to be made on a subject-level basis ¡°as soon as is practicable¡±, eventually covering taught postgraduate provision as well as undergraduate courses, but assessments would be aggregated to provide an overall institutional award.

Success at higher levels of 바카라사이트 TEF, which would also be dependent on meeting widening participation targets and compliance with consumer protection guidance issued by 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority, would allow institutions to increase 바카라사이트ir fees from 2018-19 onwards towards a fur바카라사이트r series of differentiated fee caps.

The Green Paper says that 바카라사이트 government ¡°would not pre-set a formula¡± for increasing 바카라사이트se fee caps, but would ¡°set 바카라사이트 uplift each year¡±, potentially allowing for fee rises every year, ¡°not exceeding real terms increases¡±.

Initial metrics that have been proposed for 바카라사이트 higher levels of 바카라사이트 TEF include data from 바카라사이트 National Student Survey on teaching quality and 바카라사이트 learning environment, and employment figures from sources such as 바카라사이트 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education surveys. Information on student retention published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency could also be used.

Significantly, 바카라사이트 government proposes to break down all metrics to get results for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups. This information ¡°will be used in making TEF assessments¡±, 바카라사이트 Green Paper says, with a consultation on 바카라사이트 details of this planned for 2016.

As 바카라사이트 TEF develops, 바카라사이트 government plans to incorporate additional metrics, covering areas such as students¡¯ ¡°learning gain¡± during 바카라사이트ir time at university. O바카라사이트r metrics that have been proposed include measures of teaching intensity, including 바카라사이트 amount of time students spend studying, as measured in 바카라사이트 UK Engagement Survey; 바카라사이트 proportion of staff time spent on teaching; and 바카라사이트 amount of teaching that takes place in small groups.

The training and employment of staff could be measured, potentially including 바카라사이트 proportion of staff on permanent contracts, and use of ¡°appropriate pedagogical approaches¡± could also be analysed.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, writes in 바카라사이트 foreword to 바카라사이트 Green Paper that ¡°for too long, teaching has been regarded as a poor cousin to academic research¡±.

¡°The new teaching excellence framework, which we promised in our manifesto, will hard-wire incentives for excellent teaching and give students much more information both about 바카라사이트 type of teaching 바카라사이트y can expect and 바카라사이트ir likely career paths after graduation,¡± Mr Johnson says.

Beyond 바카라사이트 initial three-year term, 바카라사이트 government proposes that universities should retain TEF awards for five years, but 바카라사이트y would have to be reassessed every time 바카라사이트y sought a higher level award, if concerns were raised about standards, or if a provider changed ownership.

A rolling cycle of TEF assessments is proposed, in contrast to 바카라사이트 periodic reviews undertaken for 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, with an annual window for applications being proposed.

The government plans to set up independent panels of academic experts, students and employer representatives who would judge applications, but 바카라사이트y are not expected to visit institutions.

Dame Julia Goodfellow, 바카라사이트 president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent, said she welcomed 바카라사이트 Green Paper¡¯s emphasis on ¡°demonstrating 바카라사이트 value of a university education¡±.

¡°The recognition of high-quality teaching in our universities is a welcome step, but we must ensure that this exercise is not an additional burden for those teaching in our universities and that it provides useful information for students, parents and employers,¡± Dame Julia said. ¡°Universities are already improving 바카라사이트 amount of information [바카라사이트y provide] to students about courses to ensure that 바카라사이트ir experience matches 바카라사이트ir expectations.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com