How to evidence educational gains
Seeking the holy grail of student outcomes indicators, B3 and TEF
Evidencing educational gains is a hot topic across the higher education sector, and evasys is delighted to partner with HEPI to bring you our latest Lunch and Learn webinar, where we will be joined by a leading panel of experts to discuss Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) submissions and best practices.
This webinar offered a timely opportunity for key stakeholders from across the higher education sector to learn about the processes and activities surrounding the most recent round of TEF submissions. With a revised framework, a new condition (B3) around student outcomes, increased student participation and new thresholds launched, the 2022/23 TEF preparation and submission process required careful attention and navigation.
Presenters shared their experiences and reflections on preparing their TEF submissions, including the new minimal threshold requirements. Webinar attendees had the opportunity to learn:
This webinar offered a timely opportunity for key stakeholders from across the higher education sector to learn about the processes and activities surrounding the most recent round of TEF submissions. With a revised framework, a new condition (B3) around student outcomes, increased student participation and new thresholds launched, the 2022/23 TEF preparation and submission process required careful attention and navigation.
Presenters shared their experiences and reflections on preparing their TEF submissions, including the new minimal threshold requirements. Webinar attendees will have the opportunity to learn:
The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) aims to drive improvement in teaching, learning and student outcomes at universities and colleges to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality academic experience.
Meet the hosts and presenters.
Dr Helena Lim
Head of Opportunities, evasys UK
Helena has worked in higher education for more than twenty five years, including senior roles at Southampton Solent University and the Higher Education Academy, as well as holding Honorary Fellowships with University of Liverpool and Aberystwyth University.
With her strong background in institutional research, Helena is the founder of the UK and Ireland Higher Education Institutional Research (HEIR) and was Co-Convenor of the European Association for Institutional Research (EAIR) Special Interest on Institutional Research for Management Decision Support from 2008 to 2015. In her role at evasys, Helena supports higher education institutions in optimising their student feedback systems to enhance the student learning process.
Nick Hillman
Director, HEPI
Nick Hillman has been the Director of HEPI since 2014. He worked for the Rt Hon David Willetts MP (now Lord Willetts), the Minister for Universities and Science, from 2007 until the end of 2013, as Chief of Staff and then Special Adviser in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Previously, he was a History teacher and worked at the Association of British Insurers. At the 2010 general election, he was the runner-up in Cambridge.
He has written for a range of think tanks and journals. His journal articles include pieces on the Coalition’s higher education reforms for the Oxford Review of Education (2016), on access to schools and selective universities for Higher Education Review (2014) and on the fifty-year history of student loans for Contemporary British History (2013). He also wrote the authoritative account of being a special adviser for the Institute of Government (2014).
His recent research for HEPI includes a paper on the tenure of vice-chancellors, a history of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), a piece on the likely impact of Brexit on student demand and university governance in a new age of regulation.
In late 2020, he was shortlisted for the first Prospect magazine Think Tanker of the Year Award. He is an Honorary Fellow of both Queen Mary University of London (2016) and the National Conference of University Professors (2022).
Dr Diana Beech
CEO, London Higher
As CEO of London Higher, Diana is responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction of the organisation and being a voice for London’s universities and higher education colleges.
Diana has previously worked in government as a policy adviser to three Ministers of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. Prior to this she was the first Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI).
You can find her on Twitter at @dianajbeech
Professor Janet de Wilde
Queen Mary, University London
Janet has worked in the Higher Education sector for over 35 years. Janet’s initial background was in STEM, working for 5 years in the engineering industry, she then moved to Imperial College London to research and teach in Bioengineering for 17 years.
Since 2005, Janet has worked in Educational & Researcher Development. During this time, 2011-2014, Janet worked at national and international level as Head of STEM at the Higher Education Academy.
In 2020, Janet joined Queen Mary University London to lead the newly launched Queen Mary Academy. The Academy supports the development of excellence in Education and Research. She is a Principal Fellow of the HEA and is currently Vice Chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education. Janet is currently chair of the EUA Thematic Peer Group for Transnational Education.
Dr Harriet Dunbar-Morris
University of Portsmouth
As Dean of Learning and Teaching at the University of Portsmouth, Harriet is responsible for providing leadership in the enhancement and evaluation of the student experience.
She champions the student voice, and facilitates partnership working, ensuring student engagement is central to the University’s activities. She led the revision of the Curriculum Framework including embedding the Hallmarks of the Portsmouth Graduate within the curriculum. Other projects have included Personal Tutoring and Content Capture.
Harriet undertook research in Higher Education at the University of Oxford. Post-Oxford, Harriet held positions at UCAS, the 1994 Group, and the universities of Bath and Bradford.
See www.harrietdm.com for more detail. Harriet tweets as @HE_Harriet.
Oscar Minto
Reading University Students’ Union
Oscar is a recent law graduate from the University of Reading, and is currently working as Education Officer at Reading University Student’s Union. He was responsible for the recent Teaching Excellence Framework student submission for Reading.
Oscar has also been a member of the OfS Student Panel since 2022. Recent events he has presented at include the Westminster Higher Education Forum policy conference on quality and standards in HE assessment (February 2023) and The future for freedom of speech in UK higher education (April 2023).
Oscar is particularly keen on championing the rights and experiences of students with disabilities; he wants to ensure that higher education institutions act equitably, providing inclusive environments and equal opportunities for those with disabilities.