Contents
Fulfilling our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice 8
Foreword from the Minister of State for Universities and Science 9
Introduction and executive summary 11
The productivity challenge 11
The transparency challenge 12
Driving up teaching standards 13
Boosting social mobility 14
A fairer deal for new and existing providers 14
Reforming our higher education architecture 15
Reducing complexity and bureaucracy in research funding 15
Public sector equality duty 16
Consideration of the Family Test 17
Scope of this consultation 17
Part A: Teaching Excellence, Quality and Social Mobility 19
Chapter 1: Introducing the Teaching Excellence Framework 19
Rationale for the Teaching Excellence Framework 20
What do we mean by excellence? 22
Scope 22
TEF and disadvantaged groups 23
The proposed TEF model: a summary 23
Starting the TEF: Years one and two 25
The quality assessment system (QA) and TEF 26
Degree classification and TEF 26
Chapter 2: Assessment process, outcomes and incentives 28
Timing and frequency 29
Assessment process 29
Assessment level and outcomes 30
Incentives 30
Incentives for alternative providers 31
Chapter 3: Criteria and metrics 32
Aspects of teaching excellence 33
Key principles for metrics and institutional evidence 34
Chapter 4: Social mobility and widening participation 37
Progress to date on social mobility and widening participation 37
Ambition for further progress 38
Data 40
Degree apprenticeships 40
Alternative (Sharia-compliant) finance 41
Part B: The higher education sector 43
Chapter 1: Opening the sector to new providers 43
A single route into higher education 46
Degree awarding powers and university title 47
Validation arrangements for degrees 50
Speeding up entry for high quality new providers: immediate actions 51
Chapter 2: Provider exit and student protection 55
Types of exit 55
A student protection requirement 56
Part C: Simplifying the higher education architecture 58
Chapter 1: A simpler system with students at the centre 58
Principles for reform 58
Existing higher education architecture 59
The new architecture 59
A single, transparent and light touch regulatory system 61
Students' unions 62
Chapter 2: The Office for Students 63
Purpose of the Office for Students 63
Proposed statutory duties and powers of the Office for Students 63
Proposed statutory duties and powers of the Secretary of State 65
Managing risk 65
Chapter 3: Further deregulation 67
Reforms to the constitutional arrangements of Higher Education Corporations 67
Simplifying the role of the Privy Council in approving higher education institutions' governing documents 68
Public body requirements 69
Part D: Reducing complexity and bureaucracy in research funding 70
Chapter 1: Research landscape 70
Chapter 2: The Research Excellence Framework 73
Summary of consultation questions 75
Next steps 79
How to respond 79
Confidentiality & Data Protection 79
Help with queries 80
Annex A: Equality analysis 81
Introduction 81
Teaching Excellence Framework 81
Information barriers 82
Where are disadvantaged and protected groups most likely to study? 82
Which subjects are disadvantaged and protected groups most likely to study? 84
Student choice 85
Social mobility and widening participation 86
Opening the sector to new providers 87
Provider exit and student protection 88
Simplifying the higher education architecture 88
Annex B: Consultation principles 89
Comments or complaints on the conduct of this consultation 89
Annex C: Consultation response form 90
Annex D: List of Individuals/Organisations consulted 101
Table A1. Definition of TRAC institution groups 83
Table A2. Representation of students with a protected characteristic within HEFCE TRAC groups 83
Charts
Chart A1/Chart A2. UK domiciled young entrants to full-time first degree courses from POLAR3 low participation neighbourhoods by subject 85