In response to the Office for Students’ latest published proposals for the final version of the new quality assessment system and Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), Susanna Kalitowski, Director of Policy at University Alliance said:
“The Office for Students’ intention to create incentives that support continuous improvement is the right instinct, and today’s proposals indicate a more proportionate approach to quality regulation than previously proposed.
“We welcome the decision to move away from a single overall TEF rating in favour of separate assessments of student experience and student outcomes. This represents a more proportionate approach to sanctions.
“However, we remain concerned about several of the proposals. The meaning of the bronze award has fundamentally changed from the previous TEF exercise, and the regulator continues to propose a high-stakes model in which quality assessments are closely tied to regulatory interventions and recruitment controls. We are not yet convinced that the proposed metrics and incentives will be the most effective way to drive genuine improvements in teaching quality and student outcomes.
“We will work closely with our members to engage constructively with this consultation as it develops. Any system must be fair to universities serving students who face the greatest barriers to higher education.”
