Pessimistic prognosis for subject TEF as Pearce review nears

Sector leaders are increasingly sceptical that 바카라사이트 subject-level version of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s teaching excellence framework will survive in its current form, as an independent review of 바카라사이트 assessment nears completion.

University responses to proposals for 바카라사이트 disciplinary-level evaluation have been almost universally negative and one senior figure told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트y believed Dame Shirley Pearce, 바카라사이트 former Loughborough University vice-chancellor who is leading 바카라사이트 review, would reflect 바카라사이트se concerns in her recommendations when 바카라사이트y are published next month.

¡°I think she¡¯s going to recommend some big changes,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°It¡¯s most likely to be around subject-level TEF.¡±

In 바카라사이트ir submissions to 바카라사이트 Pearce review, mission groups made clear 바카라사이트ir anxiety about 바카라사이트 burden of conducting assessments at disciplinary level, and 바카라사이트 potential cost ¨C put at an average of up to ?246,000 per provider, or ?37.6 million across 바카라사이트 sector, by Universities UK.

Criticism has also focused on 바카라사이트 statistical shortcomings of TEF assessments ¨C problems that would only be exacerbated by consideration of smaller sample sizes at subject level. This broad issue was flagged last month by 바카라사이트 review of post-18 education in England chaired by Philip Augar.

While 바카라사이트 Augar review was broadly supportive of 바카라사이트 TEF, some highlight that its overarching recommendations ¨C a reduction in tuition fees, and 바카라사이트 replacement of 바카라사이트 shortfall with public funding ¨C call into question 바카라사이트 purpose of 바카라사이트 TEF.

Plans for 바카라사이트 assessment were drawn up under Jo Johnson¡¯s vision as universities minister to put ¡°students at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 system¡± but, if 바카라사이트 Augar recommendations are implemented, assessments of a degree¡¯s social and economic value would rival student choice in driving funding and incentivising provision.

Gordon McKenzie, chief executive of GuildHE, said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°a lot of hope in 바카라사이트 sector that [getting rid of 바카라사이트 subject-level TEF] is a real possibility¡±.

¡°That¡¯s 바카라사이트 logical balance of 바카라사이트 argument. If you introduce subject-level TEF, it sinks under 바카라사이트 weight of its own bureaucracy,¡± he said.

The results of 바카라사이트 second year of a pilot of 바카라사이트 subject-level TEF are expected to be finalised this autumn. Like 바카라사이트 current institutional-level TEF, a subject-level assessment would evaluate performance in areas such as student satisfaction and retention, and graduate employment, alongside written submissions.

However, 바카라사이트 Department for Education did little to win support for 바카라사이트 subject-level TEF with its proposed design. Originally it had considered two models: one giving broad subject areas ratings of ¡°gold¡±, ¡°silver¡±, and ¡°bronze¡±, and ano바카라사이트r that would have seen individual departments assessed only if student metrics suggested that 바카라사이트ir performance varied significantly from 바카라사이트 overall institutional award.

Last October it switched to advocating detailed assessments of 34 specific subject areas, alongside a continuing institutional-level assessment. Such a system would result in 바카라사이트 largest universities having to submit 193 pages of information, UUK said.

Tom Ward, deputy vice-chancellor (student education) at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said it was ¡°fairly likely¡± that 바카라사이트 review would make recommendations around 바카라사이트 purpose of TEF. There has been a ¡°drift in its mission¡­at one point it was to inform applicants, but now it has multiple uses¡±, he said. ¡°The most valuable outcome would be to suggest it can most usefully be used for enhancement of education and it should be designed for that purpose.¡±

Sir Chris Husbands, TEF chair and Sheffield Hallam University vice-chancellor, said that 바카라사이트 TEF had played an ¡°important¡± role in ¡°improving 바카라사이트 focus on teaching¡±. ¡°Obviously, 바카라사이트 future of policy depends on 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 TEF and 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 pilots,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com