Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (29 September) commented on the government’s response to the consultation on the implementation of the second stage of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Professor David Phoenix, Chair of MillionPlus and Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University, said:

“The new Teaching Excellence Framework is a significant development for universities and students and we welcome some of the changes which the Minister has made to TEF 2 in his response to the technical consultation.

“Providing context and supporting information will be vital if the TEF is to take proper account of the diverse range of universities and higher education students. It is equally important that a complex system with multiple outcomes is not viewed through a narrow lens. The decision to include additional benchmarking criteria such as socio-economic background and disability is a step in the right direction.

“However, we remain concerned about the timetable for implementation and the link with fees. As with any new framework, rapid implementation without proper evaluation and reflection also risks unintended consequences and the TEF has implications for universities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as in England.

“We look forward to working with the government to ensure that the TEF is fit for purpose and succeeds in improving the range and quality of information available to students, employers and the general public.“

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. Modern universities: key facts
3. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 7717 1658 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk
4. Read the government’s full response to the consultation here