OK Margaret, well in my view, what what its worth, and I’ll try and be short and charitable!

Even if you leave aside the fact that metrics regarding employability and retention have arguable nothing to do with teaching excellence,and
even if you leave aside that the ultimate decision of these panels in certain cases will require the semantic gymnastics of deciding between excellent and outstanding, and
even if we accept that NSS scores are connected with teaching excellence (which i know some/many would want to take issue with),
we know that NSS scores vary more between different programmes within universities than between institutions.  This exercise is going to require a ‘holistic’ decision regarding the institution based on some aggregation of those scores and a minimalist 15 page submission from the institution.  In my view the outcomes of such a process are going to be virtually meaningless especially regarding what teaching excellence may or may not exist in the given institution.
And these panels will be required in making this spurious decision.

I’ll be interested to hear what others think.

best wishes
Chris

Chris Rust
Professor Emeritus 


On 28 Jun 2016, at 09:39, MACDOUGALL Margaret <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Thanks, Chris, for engaging with Yaz via the SEDA list in order that we can view your opinion that TEF is a “clearly flawed” process.  Would it be possible, please, to open up some discussion on why you view the TEF in this way. Opinions may vary on this list and I would like to learn from such a discussion.
 
Also, given that HEFCE does not fund Scotland through any of its funding streams, I would be interested to learn where Scotland is to fit in w.r.t. the particular exercise that Yaz highlights. 
 
Best wishes
 
Margaret
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Margaret MacDougall
Medical Statistician and Researcher in Education
Centre for Population Health Sciences
College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Teviot Place
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh EH8 9AG
 
Tel: +44(0)131 650 3211
Fax: +44(0)131 650 6909
 
 
From: Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development Association [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Rust
Sent: 28 June 2016 09:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fwd: HEFCE Panel Members and Assessors
 
 
From: Chris Rust <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: HEFCE Panel Members and Assessors
Date: 28 June 2016 at 09:26:59 BST
To: Yaz El Hakim <[log in to unmask]>
 
Yaz
 
I think this raises interesting questions about the tactics and politics of this.  Do we want to be involved in such a clearly flawed exercise (with the notion that we can in some way influence it for the better from the inside) or should we refuse to take part because to do so would in some way suggest that we believe this exercise is assessing and recognising teaching excellence? So far, i have been favouring the latter!
 
Best wishes
Chris
 
Chris Rust
Professor Emeritus 

<image001.png>
 
On 28 Jun 2016, at 09:17, Yaz El Hakim <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 

A colleague of mine in HEFCE would like to ensure that SEDA colleagues are aware of the opportunity below. I am sure many of you have seen this already, but if not, please consider the opportunity, as I believe the panels are likely to be where the 'excellence' will be most visible and best questioned, through the TEF process. 

Many thanks,

Yaz

 

Recruitment of panel members and assessors (Teaching Excellence Framework)

 

The Government is introducing a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) which aims to recognise and reward excellent learning and teaching. It has published a technical consultation on year 2 of the TEF and has asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to implement the year 2 exercise during 2016-17.

 

HEFCE is seeking to appoint up to 25 panel members and a pool of up to 65 assessors to review submissions to the year 2 TEF and decide on the assessment outcomes. This will include academics, students and student representatives, employers and widening participation experts.

 

We are seeking to appoint high-calibre individuals who have standing with the higher education sector and students, are committed to excellence in learning and teaching, and have the ability to reach robust decisions in a complex and time-constrained setting.

 

Please see www.hefce.ac.uk/lt/tef/ for more details about the roles available and how to apply. For a confidential discussion about the opportunities please contact tefrecruitment@hefce.ac.uk.

 

Closing date 1st July 2016.

 

Appointments for all roles will be made by August 2016.

 

 

-- 
Yaz 
El Hakim

Head of UK Academic Partnerships
 
Unit 1, New North House
Canonbury Business Centre
202-208 New North Road
London, N1 7BJ
 
 
 
 
 
 
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration number SC005336.