Our Policy Position

The Teaching Excellence Framework has been an ongoing focus for GuildHE over the past few years. We have worked closely with members to gather views and ensure they shaped our discussions with government on the trial of a subject based TEF assessment.

In addition to meeting DfE regularly to discuss the TEF proposals, GuildHE has been an active member of DfE’s TEF Delivery Group, helping to shape the development of the proposals, including on subject level TEF, and to ensure that it takes account of sector diversity. This lobbying and engagement activity has been supported by a wide range of public-facing activities including numerous blogs and media comments, speeches and presentations as well as sessions for members to help formulate their views.

GuildHE is primarily concerned that both subject and institutional TEF are burdensome on small and specialist providers, and that the cost of the exercise may outweigh the benefits for prospective students, government and institutions.

Related to our work on TEF we continue to provide evidence to Government on how the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes data could be misleading as a student information tool. For more information on our work on LEO please visit the skills policy page (link to skills policy page).

Our members offer a distinctive and innovative learning experience for students, which is often linked directly to employers and industries. We support our members to educate the public and policy makers on the many different ways to teach and engage students, industries and regions. Many of our providers offer accelerated degrees, or higher and degree level apprenticeships (link to skills page) as one way of diversifying the learning experience. Industry professionals are often found teaching students in our member institutions, and there are a variety of practical and technical education offered. Government must avoid the trap of equating higher education with “academic”, and thinking technical and vocational education are only available through other routes. Higher education has always provided high-level technical and professional degrees, valued by employers and often validated by professional bodies.