University of Hull awarded Silver for Teaching Excellence

The University of Hull has been praised for excellent student outcomes by a Government panel evaluating excellence in teaching in UK Universities.

 The remarks came as the University was awarded Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework, announced today.

 The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) has been introduced by the Government to recognise and reward excellence in learning and teaching in universities and colleges. It is intended to help students choose where to study, by providing clear information about teaching provision and student outcomes.

 Universities are marked on six metrics around teaching quality, learning environment and student outcomes.

 Feedback from the panel stated of the University: “Students achieve excellent outcomes. Very high proportions of students continue with their studies and progress to employment or further study. Progression to highly-skilled employment is consistently high, with the provider notably above the benchmark for some student groups, including part-time learners.”

 It went on to praise “very high levels of student satisfaction with teaching and academic support.”

Professor Alan Speight, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) at the University of Hull, said: “This is fantastic for the University. It builds on feedback we have already had directly from our students that the University offers a nurturing and supportive environment to enable our students to grow as independent, confident individuals and to secure the jobs and future they deserve.

 “Students remain at the heart of everything we do and we are proud to have received such strong comments, by an independent body, confirming our proactive approach to supporting our students.”

 Professor Glenn Burgess, Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “Teaching excellence and student satisfaction are high priorities and we are extremely proud to have been awarded Silver in the TEF.

“It provides an important indicator of the University’s teaching quality, and the support that it gives to its students.”

 The panel also praised:

• a commitment to personalised learning via tutorials and attendance monitoring that provide high levels of engagement and commitment to learning and study.
• high levels of stretch, including integrating employment skills by working closely with industrial partners in course development and review
• an institutional approach to developing high-quality physical and digital resources, which are used frequently by students to develop study and research skills
• an embedded institutional culture that facilitates and recognises excellent teaching through high-quality support for staff, peer observation and a comprehensive professional development programme.

 This latest achievement builds on a number of successes for the University, notably the higher education watchdog, Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), commended the University for the enhancement of student learning opportunities in an official review of its academic standards, the University rose 40 places in the What Uni Rankings, which is solely driven by student opinion, and was placed joint 8th in the UK for employability, as published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in 2016.

The University’s Silver judgement will last for three years.