OfS opens consultation on TEF framework

The Office for Students last week launched a consultation on the future of the Teaching Excellence Framework, open to “anyone with an interest in the quality of higher education courses, the TEF, or UK higher education more generally.” It is part of the wider OfS review of outcomes and excellence, which is also seeking feedback on the minimum requirements that universities and colleges should deliver for student outcomes, and on the data indicators used to inform TEF assessments.

With increased public debate about the value for money of university education and stiff recruitment competition, TEF has significant implications for universities as a highly visible indicator of quality for prospective students. It follows Dame Shirley Pearce’s independent review of TEF and the government’s response, as well as the outcomes of the subject-level pilot conducted in 2019.

The University’s TEF Strategy Group, chaired by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth McCrum, will now review the consultation proposals in detail and prepare our response. The consultation closes on 17 March 2022, with the OfS aiming to publish outcomes this summer. The consultation document suggests that the next assessment exercise would take place in the latter half of 2022, with outcomes published in spring 2023.

What is the OfS proposing?

The consultation document puts forward 15 proposals outlining a framework for a provider-level award for all undergraduate courses, based on a Gold, Silver, Bronze rating scheme. Assessment would take place every four years.

While the proposals dispense with subject-level assessment, the consultation document suggests that the provider-level submission should incorporate a breakdown of indicators by subject and course type, as well as different student characteristics. Two areas (weighted equally) would be assessed:

1. student experience: focusing on the extent to which teaching, learning, assessment and the educational environment deliver an excellent educational experience for each provider’s students.
2. student outcomes: focusing on the extent to which the provider’s students succeed in and beyond their studies, and the educational gains delivered for students.

As well as the overall provider rating, institutions would receive separate ratings for both these aspects.

To reach an assessment, the OfS would produce a benchmarked set of indicators for each provider. Providers would then prepare their submission setting out their own evidence for excellence on these two aspects. In addition to the institutional submission, the consultation proposes that a student submission should also be encouraged, via existing mechanisms like students’ unions. Ratings would then be decided by an expert panel.

How will the University respond to the consultation?

Elizabeth McCrum has welcomed the opportunity for the University to share its views on the shape of the proposed framework. “TEF is an excellent opportunity to showcase our successes and the excellent work we do in supporting student outcomes and experiences. A provider-level focus is significantly less intensive than the subject-level pilot in 2019. There is still plenty of work involved in preparing a provider-level submission for nominated people across Functions and Schools, but it will be less and involve far fewer colleagues than the 2019 pilot exercise.

“The proposed framework should also allow us to draw on our existing STEAP process as a source of evidence, with our aim being to make the most of existing data sets rather Schools needing to gather or collate new data.”

A small group is being established to draft the University’s response, led by Elizabeth and drawing on expertise in the Planning and Strategy Office and CQSD. If you would like to share your views on the consultation with the group, please email Strategic Projects Manager Gemma Green (gemma.green@reading.ac.uk). 

The draft response will then be reviewed and signed off by the TEF Strategy Group, which includes School, Function and RUSU representation. The final submission will be shared with all colleagues when it is submitted.