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The Teaching Excellence Framework

Foreword to the HE White Paper

“..we are publishing a technical consultation on Year Two of the Teaching Excellence Framework to ensure the sector has the opportunity to shape the detailed proposals. Through the TEF, which we promised in our manifesto, we will ensure there are clear incentives for higher education institutions to deliver value to students and taxpayers.

- Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science

The Higher Education White Paper

Creating a competitive market

simplifying the regulatory landscape

Choice for students

the Teaching Excellence Framework & widening

participation

Updating the regulatory architecture

the Office for Students

Aims of the TEF

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Highlight and incentivise excellent teaching

Provide students and employers with better information

Provide incentives so research and teaching are equally valued.

Some sector views

‘…the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) provides an opportunity to

encourage high-quality teaching, as well as giving students and employers greater transparency – and can help address the current mismatch in the

graduate labour market’ (CBI)

‘The government’s consultative approach to the TEF to date and

engagement with the sector and wider stakeholders has been very welcome.

The TEF will only succeed if it continues to be developed and implemented in a

collaborative way.’ (UUK)

‘Depending on the robustness and credibility of the TEF…. the effect of a TEF may well invigorate teaching and

encourage all HE providers, all disciplines, all modes of delivery and all

levels to aim for teaching excellence.’ (Heads of Educational Development

Group)

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TEF Year Two – a ‘trial’ year

Three award ratings and no fee differentiation

‘Meets Expectations’ rating (if eligibility requirements are met) or higher

Assessmentscarried out at an institutional level

The assessment framework - modelAspect of quality

Areas of teaching and learning quality

Teaching Quality Learning Environment Student Outcomes and Learning Gain

Criteria

Statements that identify what

assessors will be looking for

Teaching Quality criteria Learning Environment criteria

Student Outcomes and Learning Gain criteria

Evidence

The evidence base that will be used to form a judgement against

the criteria, made up of core

metrics and additional evidence

In future years this may be expanded to include further metrics, e.g. teaching intensity or HMRC data.

Core metrics

National Student Survey (Q 1-4 – teaching on course; Q 5-9 – assessment and feedback)

National Student Survey (Q 10-12 – academic support)

Retention/continuation (HESA)

Employment/destination (DLHE)

Potential highly-skilled jobs metric

Additional evidence (provider submission)

Statement of findings

Description of performance in each aspect

Teaching Quality statement of findings

Learning Environment statement of findings

Student Outcomes and Learning Gain statement

of findings

Possible Commendations

Overall outcome

TEF ratingTEF Rating

TEF Year Two metrics

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Student views on ‘The

teaching on my course’, ‘Assessment

and feedback’, and ‘Academic support’ (NSS)

Non-continuation

rates

(HESA and ILR)

Rates of employment

or further study, six

months after graduation

(DLHE)

…and we are consulting

on including a highly skilled

employment metric

The provider submission

An opportunity to present additional evidence

about how teaching is excellent

Should put forward any additional

evidence to support the

case (qualitative

and/or quantitative)

May provide contextual

information that explains performance against the

core metrics

What the panel will consider

Performance against the core

metrics

Contextual evidence & the

Provider Submission

Make a holistic assessment based

on core metrics and additional

evidence

Panel membership

Panel members

• individuals with HE expertise

• students or their reps

• employer reps

Support Judgments

• collective decisions by the panel

• TEF officers • Metrics/

analytical experts

TEF years three and four

First year of differentiated fees for institutional level assessments -in line with inflation with no real terms increase

Pilot assessments at disciplinary level

Year three

First year of disciplinary level assessments

May include taught postgraduate level courses

Year four

The TEF technical consultation

There are 12 questions posed in the technical consultation which closed on 12 July. We are consulting

on the following areas:

The TEF award ratings and descriptions

The provider submission

Contextual evidence

Future metrics

The criteria

Next steps

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Technical Consultation

closes

July 12 2016

Technical Consultation

response published Sept 2016

Applications window opens

October 2016

Technical guidance

issued October

2016

First TEF awards

announced Spring 2017

Any questions?

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Please keep any questions focused on the operation of the TEF in Year Two.