Posted: 22nd June 2017 | Back to news feed
University Centre Hartpury has been awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2017.
The university centre is one of only 59 UK higher education providers to achieve Gold, putting it in the top 20% nationally. It also holds the only Gold TEF award in the whole of Gloucestershire.
Currently in its second year, the results of the TEF provide a new picture of excellence in teaching and learning in UK higher education. Some 295 universities, colleges and alternative providers of higher education voluntarily took part in the TEF. Each provider was rated Gold, Silver or Bronze, or received a Provisional award where there was not enough data for a full assessment.
The TEF panel judged that, based on the evidence available, University Centre Hartpury delivers consistently outstanding teaching and learning and outcomes for its students – of the highest quality found in the UK.
The past year has also seen the organisation - that specialises in sport, equine, animal, agriculture and veterinary science education - support 98.6% of its graduates into further study or employment within six months (DLHE 2014/15).
The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) was introduced by the Government to build evidence about the performance of the UK’s world-class higher education sector, complementing the existing Research Excellence Framework with an analysis of teaching and learning outcomes.
The TEF awards were decided by an independent panel of experts including academics, students and employer representatives. Drawing on national data, and evidence submitted by each university or college, the TEF measures excellence in three areas: teaching quality, the learning environment and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students.
Russell Marchant, Principal at University Centre Hartpury and Hartpury College, said: “This is testament to the quality of our staff. Their passion for their subjects and commitment to the success of our students is commendable and we’re incredibly proud of everyone who’s played a part.”
Rosie Scott-Ward, Vice Principal and Head of Higher Education at University Centre Hartpury, said: “This achievement comes at an exciting time, following the launch of University Centre Hartpury and our application for Taught Degree Awarding Powers. It gives us a solid framework from which to continue developing excellence across our higher education programmes.”
Professor Chris Husbands, Chair of the TEF assessment panel and Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “The Teaching Excellence Framework results offer – for the first time – an overview of teaching excellence across the entire UK higher education sector. It has been a privilege to chair this ambitious and ground-breaking assessment.
“Alongside the headline results, we are publishing all the data and submissions, and statements of the assessors’ findings. Taken together, this is a set of material on teaching excellence which goes further than has been possible for any other university system in the world.”
Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said: “Students invest significant amounts of time and money in their higher education. They rightly expect a high-quality learning experience and outcomes that reflect their potential. The UK already has a high bar for quality and standards, which all universities and colleges must meet. But the TEF judges excellence above and beyond this, clearly showing the highest levels across the sector.
“The TEF measures the things that students themselves say they care about: high-quality, engaged teaching and a supportive, stimulating learning environment which equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential, and then to progress to a good job or further study.”
The TEF results and the evidence used in the assessment can be found at www.hefce.ac.uk. The TEF awards will also be published on Unistats and the UCAS website, alongside other information, to help inform prospective students’ choices.
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