University challenge

It is odd, to say the least, that a Government plan to improve teaching in higher education should be denounced by some academic bodies. Britain’s universities say they already provide excellent teaching and don’t need a “tick box” exercise to make it any better. If that is what the Teaching Excellence Framework outlined in today’s White Paper amounts to, then it will indeed be a missed opportunity.

But it is more than that. It is an incentive-based scheme that acknowledges the worldwide reputation of British universities, but wants to make them better still. Thirty-four UK universities feature in the world’s top 200, and three of the world’s top 10 institutions are here. Furthermore, the sector makes up around 3 per cent of GDP and generates export earnings of more than £10 billion a year. This is a national asset worth nurturing and pushing towards greater attainment.

The danger is that universities will stand still if they feel their paymasters are content with their lot. Surveys show that more than 80 per cent of students say they are happy with the teaching they receive, and the UK outperforms international competitors in 15 out of 23 International Student Barometer benchmarks. But expectations will inevitably rise and teaching standards will have to rise with them. The Government also needs to have an eye on the growing strength of global competition and the need to secure sufficient funding for research.

Academics are understandably nervous about quality assessment and rightly point out that sometimes they have to deal with the failed products of the schools system, carrying out remedial work in basic literacy and numeracy before even beginning their courses. But overall they have a good story to tell. They should relish the opportunity to tell an even better one.