Region’s universities rated Gold in Teaching Excellence Framework

Universities across the region are celebrating after achieving the highest possible Gold rating in a newly launched teaching excellence assessment.

Liverpool Hope University, Hugh Baird University Centre, Edge Hill University, The City of Liverpool College and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts all received Gold ratings.

Published today (22 June 2017) by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) recognises UK university teaching quality for the first time.

The scheme will provide students with a picture of excellence in higher education teaching and learning through the issuing of Gold, Silver or Bronze awards.

Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Chester both received Silver awards, while The University of Liverpool and Southport College were awarded the Bronze rating.

Universities taking part have been accessed by an expert panel in three areas: teaching quality; the learning environment and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students.

The ratings have revealed that the majority of UK universities are offering quality teaching to their students – 59 providers were rated ‘gold’, 116 rated ‘silver’ and 56 rated ‘bronze’.

Professor Gerald Pillay, vice-chancellor of Liverpool Hope University, said: “It is very gratifying for all our staff that there is public recognition of Liverpool Hope’s quality. For what these assessments are worth, a real commitment to serious research and teaching will be vindicated.

“Universities worth their salt must be committed to both research and teaching. They have a responsibility to induct their students from the very beginning into a culture of enquiry and creativity.”

Colette Mawdsley, dean of higher education at the Hugh Baird University Centre, said: “Receiving the TEF Gold Award is a fantastic achievement. It is testament to the hard work undertaken by teaching staff at the University Centre and those who from across the College who support our learners on their journey.”

“We believe that university level study is for all and we are proud to be working with many learners who will be the first in their family to gain a university degree.”

Mark Featherstone-Witty, LIPA’s founding principal and CEO, said: “The TEF is one helpful decision by government: to acknowledge that teaching and learning is what higher education does, as well as research.

“For institutions like ours, where craft learning predominates, our often stated misgivings about the current rankings have finally been heard.”