Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Husbands has been named as the first Chair of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) following a recruitment process led by government. He will head up the assessment panel that will make decisions on awards in the second and third year of the programme.
The Teaching Excellence Framework has been introduced to ensure excellent teaching and student job prospects are at the heart of Higher Education. The framework, which will for the first time place the significance of teaching on a par with research, will put clear information into the hands of students so they know where teaching is best and what benefits they can expect to gain from their courses.
The expert assessment panel will award each Higher Education provider with a clearly understandable rating of ‘Outstanding’, ‘Excellent’ or ‘Meets Expectations’, based on evidence and a number of metrics.
Professor Husbands said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as chair of the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) panel.
“The TEF aims to recognise and reward excellent learning and teaching in higher education. Itwill build on the existing high standards of learning and teaching in universities, and I hope that it provides positive outcomes for all students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. I’ve always been passionate about the importance of high quality teaching, and look forward to working with Government and the sector to secure the benefits which TEF can bring.
“UK higher education has a global reputation for excellence, and I’m looking forward to working as part of the panel to help shape and guide the assessment process at this important time in the evolution of higher education.”
Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson MP said: “I would like to welcome Professor Husbands to this vital role. By taking into account important measures such as student satisfaction and graduate employment rates, the Teaching Excellence Framework will give students clear information about where they can achieve the best outcomes and for the first time, place teaching quality on a par with research.
“Professor Husbands has senior leadership experience from a varied range of Higher Education providers, in addition to direct knowledge of teaching in other sectors and a distinguished research background. In his new role I expect him to build on the existing high standards we expect of providers, stretching the best and rightly encouraging those with variable quality to improve.”