Analysis

Higher education: a new reality

By 2015-07-17T14:31:00

Johnson 300tb[1]

Source: © 2015 Jo Johnson, Member of Parliament for Orpington

David Read discusses what the Teaching Excellence Framework might mean for teaching in higher education

Following the introduction of higher university tuition fees in the UK in 2012, the niggling question at the back of my mind has been ‘what next?’. Now the dust has settled following the general election, there is a little more clarity over the likely direction of government policy on higher education. Many will be alarmed by the potential threats, but there are also opportunities that could genuinely have positive impacts for students who are paying a small fortune for the privilege of undertaking degree-level study.

At the core of forthcoming developments will be a new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The very name will send shivers down the spines of many in higher education, bringing to mind the horrors of the Research Excellence Framework. The TEF is intended to be a much lighter touch and not ‘big, bossy and bureaucratic’, but until we have more clarity on its nature many will be sceptical.

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Set up your Teach Chemistry account

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.