GuildHE, one of two recognised representative bodies for higher education, has today responded to the results of year two of the Teaching Excellence Framework, a Government university teaching ranking  which disrupts the traditional hierarchy in UK higher education.

Joy Carter, Chair, GuildHE and Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester, said:

“We welcome the publication of the results of the first teaching excellence framework (TEF). The TEF was a key plank of the recent Higher Education and Research Act (2017), and whilst it will need to continue to evolve, it’s right to place teaching and student outcomes at the centre of the student experience. GuildHE institutions have always focused on providing excellent teaching to students which is stretching, engaging and meaningful, and our members provide a unique learning experience to students. We are delighted this has been recognised in our members’ TEF results.”

Gordon McKenzie, Chief Executive, GuildHE, said:

“The TEF provides a welcome focus on university teaching and student outcomes – such as their employability. The results shake-up many traditional perceptions of “good universities” and excellent student experiences, which have relied too heavily on evaluating research performance.”

“Importantly, this new government ranking bench-marks student data helps take into account the difference a university makes to a student’s progress. Other league tables reward universities for taking students with high A-level results in the first place without considering the distance the student has travelled”

“We are particularly pleased that the TEF has shown the strengths of specialist institutions, who are often excluded from traditional league tables due to small student numbers”.

“The TEF isn’t perfect and has further to go to measure this ‘added-value’ but has taken a positive step forward. Its introduction helps acknowledge the value of the UK’s modern and diverse higher education sector and gives institutions the chance to compete on a more level-playing field to demonstrate excellence wherever it is found.”

ENDS