TEF - Tiresomely Extraneous & Flawed?

Authors

  • James Derounian University of Gloucestershire

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21100/compass.v10i2.411

Keywords:

Universities, UK, evaluation of teaching

Abstract

In this opinion piece the author introduces the UK Government’s 2016 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The intention of the framework is to assess and encourage teaching excellence across English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland’s higher education institutions.The research presented – paints a picture of positives and negatives of the TEF as it is currently structured. The balance of evidence points to some serious flaws in the assessment of teaching quality proposed: For example, how can an initial institutional gold, silver or bronze award adequately reflect the diversity of quality across a university’s administration, admissions, student support, different departments and disciplines?The author also argues that the TEF emphasis on particular measures – such as employability and student achievement of professional jobs within 6 months of graduation – act against the wider social purposes of universities; and – in the words of Michael Oakeshott (1950: 30)  – diminish students’ search for their “intellectual fortune”.

Author Biography

James Derounian, University of Gloucestershire

James Derounian is a National Teaching Fellow and Principal Lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire. James’ teaching and action research interests relate to active and blended learning approaches, local governance, rural social issues and community engagement. He is an experienced external examiner - currently for the University of Bolton's Neighbourhood Development first degree; plus Bournemouth University's Masters in Green Economy. James has undertaken consultancies for international (Romanian Historic Monuments Commission), national (Carnegie UK Trust) and local (Oxfordshire Rural Community Council) organisations. He is particularly skilled at facilitating part-time, mature and distance learning.

References

Adams, R. (2016) ‘English universities to be ranked gold, silver and bronze.’ Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/sep/29/english-universities-ranked-gold-silver-and-bronze (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

Coman, J. (2016) ‘Value for Money can’t be the only measure of university.’ Observer, 21 August 2016, p. 37.

Derounian, J. (2015) ‘Why does the devil have all the good tunes? How researchers continue to put one over teachers in the HE promotion stakes.’ British Educational Research Association, 5 May. Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/why-does-the-devil-have-all-the-good-tunes-how-researchers-continue-to-put-one-over-teachers-in-the-he-promotion-stakes (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

Forstenzer, J. (Undated) The Teaching Excellence Framework: What’s The Purpose? Available at: http://www.crickcentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/TEF-Whats-the-Purpose-booklet-Josh-Forstenzer.pdf (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

HM Government, Department for Education (2016) Policy paper: TEF Factsheet. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/550232/Teaching-excellence-framework-factsheet.pdf (Accessed 7 October 2016).

HM Government, Department for Education (2016) Teaching Excellence Framework: year two specification. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/556355/TEF_Year_2_specification.pdf (Accessed: 25 November 2016).

House of Commons, Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (2016) The Teaching Excellence Framework: Assessing quality in Higher Education. Available at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmbis/572/572.pdf (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

McGhee, P. (2016) ‘Will the Teaching Excellence Framework be a licence for universities to raise fees?’ Independent, 22 August 2016. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/aug/22/teaching-excellence-framework-universities-tuition-fees-tef (Accessed: 10 October 2016).

Oakeshott, M. (1950) ‘The idea of a university.’ Listener, 23-30. Available at: https://www.msudenver.edu/media/content/facultyevaltaskforce/sources/oakeshotttheideaofauniversity.pdf (Accessed: 8 October 2016).

The Conversation (2016) ‘Insularity is not the way forward’: three university vice-chancellors on Brexit; Available at: https://theconversation.com/insularity-is-not-the-way-forward-three-university-vice-chancellors-on-brexit-60660 (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

Times Higher Education (2016) Teaching excellence framework (TEF): everything you need to know. 4 August 2015. Available at: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/teaching-excellence-framework-tef-everything-you-need-to-know (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

Universities UK (2014) The Impact Of Universities On The UK Economy. Available at: http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/highereducation/Documents/2014/TheImpactOfUniversitiesOnTheUkEconomy (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

Williams, K. (1989) ‘The Gift Of An Interval: Michael Oakeshott’s Idea Of A University Education.’ British Journal of Education Studies, XXXVII(4), 384-397, November. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3121347?seq=1#fndtn-page_scan_tab_contents (Accessed: 7 October 2016).

Volume 10 Number 2 cover

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Published

05/15/2017

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2017): Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching

Section

Opinion Pieces

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