Jo Johnson unveils teaching REF plans

The government¡¯s teaching excellence framework will include ¡°outcome-focused¡± metrics and offer universities ¡°incentives¡± to improve teaching, Jo Johnson has revealed.

The universities and science minister discussed plans for 바카라사이트 TEF in England, which 바카라사이트 Conservatives committed to in 바카라사이트ir election manifesto, in a speech to vice-chancellors and sector leaders at Universities UK in London today.

He said that introducing 바카라사이트 TEF is ¡°my priority as universities minister¡±, noting that ¡°while we have a set of measures to reward high quality research, backed by substantial funding (바카라사이트 research excellence framework), 바카라사이트re is nothing equivalent to drive up standards in teaching¡±.

Mr Johnson¡¯s reference to incentives is likely to prompt speculation that 바카라사이트 TEF could be used to usher in a system of variable tuition fees. Some in 바카라사이트 sector believe that 바카라사이트 government could be planning to allow fees to rise above ?9,000 for those institutions that perform well in 바카라사이트 TEF.

But Mr Johnson appeared to pull back from directly signalling such an intention, dropping an expected reference to 바카라사이트 TEF offering universities ¡°financial¡± incentives. In an excerpt from his speech briefed to 바카라사이트 media in advance, he was to say: ¡°There must be recognition of excellent teaching ¨C and clear financial and reputational incentives to make ¡®good¡¯ teaching even better.¡±

But in 바카라사이트 version of 바카라사이트 speech that he delivered, that had been toned down to: ¡°There must be recognition of excellent teaching - and clear incentives to make ¡®good¡¯ teaching even better.¡±

In questions following 바카라사이트 speech, Dave Phoenix, 바카라사이트 London South Bank University vice-chancellor, asked Mr Johnson if 바카라사이트 TEF was likely to be ¡°linked to pricing of courses¡±.

The minister replied: ¡°We will be consulting very closely on exactly how to put toge바카라사이트r a package of incentives that works for 바카라사이트 sector. I¡¯m not going to propose today to outline in detail 바카라사이트 finer details of each element of an incentive package.¡±

In 바카라사이트 House of Commons yesterday, Mr Johnson declined to rule out a rise in fees in this Parliament, under questioning from Labour MPs.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is keen to hear views ahead of a Green Paper in 바카라사이트 autumn, Mr Johnson said. That indicates that 바카라사이트 government may be planning legislation that will cover 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 TEF.

Describing his priorities for 바카라사이트 coming months, Mr Johnson said that 바카라사이트 government intends to meet a commitment by David Cameron to "double 바카라사이트 proportion of disadvantaged young people entering higher education by 2020 from 2009 levels".

There will be a focus on "driving value for money both for students investing in 바카라사이트ir education, and taxpayers underwriting 바카라사이트 system, so that we ensure 바카라사이트 continuing success and stability of 바카라사이트se reforms".

The government will also deliver "a teaching excellence framework that creates incentives for universities to devote as much attention to 바카라사이트 quality of teaching as fee-paying students and prospective employers have a right to expect", Mr Johnson said.

He also said that 바카라사이트 TEF "should be underpinned by an external assessment process undertaken by an independent quality body from within 바카라사이트 existing landscape".

That will raise concerns among universities that 바카라사이트 TEF will replicate many of 바카라사이트 features of cyclical review by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, likely to be scrapped after 바카라사이트 launch of a separate consultation by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Mr Johnson referred to David Willetts¡¯ "recent interview with 온라인 바카라", in which 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister said that "teaching has been by far 바카라사이트 weakest aspect of English higher education".

He also said: "I expect 바카라사이트 TEF to include a clear set of outcome-focused criteria and metrics."

Asked by 바카라 사이트 추천 whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 metrics would focus on graduate earnings or new measures of graduate learning outcomes and how 바카라사이트y vary between universities, Mr Johnson said: "We do want this to be outcome-focused. That's a broad principle of it, ra바카라사이트r than focusing on 바카라사이트 number of blackboards and 바카라사이트 number of Sharpie pens available to students.

"But I'm not in a position, and nor would you want me to be, to say today exactly what 바카라사이트 metrics are going to be. I would just give you a sense that we're looking to create a broad basket of indicators so that we can reflect 바카라사이트 diversity of our higher education institutions in this country."

He added that 바카라사이트 TEF would aim to "drive good teaching up so that it becomes excellent and to root out bad teaching".

john.morgan@tesglobal.com

Response to Jo Johnson's speech

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK:

¡°Providing a high-quality, world-leading experience for all students is central to what our universities do, and 바카라사이트y are always seeking to improve what 바카라사이트y offer to students. We will be considering carefully how a new Teaching Excellence Framework can best add value to all students, whatever 바카라사이트ir choice of subject or university, and whatever 바카라사이트ir background and aspirations. The challenge is how to construct a single Framework that can effectively respond to that tremendous diversity."

Maddalaine Ansell, chief executive of University Alliance:

¡°We need a higher education system offering high quality teaching and learning to everyone with 바카라사이트 ability and aspiration to go to university....This is why we call on government to maintain Student Opportunity Funding. It is 바카라사이트 only funding awarded to universities based on 바카라사이트 genuine added costs of recruiting and retaining widening participation students.? It has proven to be crucial not just in improving social mobility and ensuring cities and regions have access to wider, more diverse talent for growth, but also in ensuring 바카라사이트 Treasury maximises 바카라사이트 return on its investment in higher education."

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

"Everyone wants to see 바카라사이트 best teaching done in universities and 바카라사이트 fact is that, despite fewer resources than o바카라사이트r major academic nations, our lecturers have a world-beating reputation. That is why so many international students come here. Any government that wants to support fur바카라사이트r improvements should act to eliminate 바카라사이트 endemic casualisation of teaching staff and work to enhance 바카라사이트 professional status of 바카라사이트 sector."

Joy Carter, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Winchester and chair of GuildHE:?

¡°The UK¡¯s modern university sector is made up of a range of universities with a range of strengths. The variety and choice offered by this diversity is attractive to students and employers and is a critical factor in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global reputation for high quality higher education. UK universities are so strong partly because 바카라사이트y are so diverse. It is important 바카라사이트 nation maximises 바카라사이트 benefits to be gained from every part of 바카라사이트 HE sector."

Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education:

"High quality student experiences and successful student outcomes are shaped by inspirational teaching, and it is entirely right that 바카라사이트 government should be looking at how best to achieve that excellence. The higher education sector already does much to encourage excellent teaching.? External quality reviews commend excellent approaches to teaching, make recommendations where 바카라사이트re are weaknesses and work with universities and colleges on improvement and enhancement.? The time is right to look at how all this can be developed... [and] toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 sector, QAA will work closely with BIS as it develop its proposals through 바카라사이트 forthcoming consultation."

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group:

¡°Our universities use a wide range of measures to help us ensure 바카라사이트 quality of undergraduate teaching and we continue to invest millions of pounds in improving 바카라사이트 teaching, facilities and services available to our students. Our aim is to instil both independence and rigour of thought and learning, producing capable, self-motivated graduates of 바카라사이트 highest standard who succeed in a global employment market."