Welsh universities’ performance in government-backed teaching assessment shows “room for improvement”, says Shadow Education SecretarY

Welsh universities’ performance in a government-backed quality assessment of teaching shows “room for improvement”, according to the Welsh Conservatives.

Out of 134 higher education institutions across the UK, 45 colleges and universities were awarded gold medals in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) – yet just one university in Wales, Bangor University, achieved the highest grade.

Taking silver were Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff University, Swansea University and Wrexham Glyndwr University, while the University of Wales Trinity St David was awarded bronze.

Aberystwyth University and the University of South Wales did not submit to the framework’s assessment.

Commenting on the results, Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Secretary, Darren Millar AM, said:

“The results show us that there is room for improvement when it comes to teaching in the Welsh university sector. 

“The Teaching Excellence Framework provides an important snapshot of the quality of teaching in universities across the UK and poor results can have a detrimental impact on student recruitment. 

“In a growingly competitive market, it is vital that Welsh universities are able to demonstrate the highest possible quality in teaching to draw in the best and brightest students.

“While I am delighted to see Bangor University being awarded a gold, that just one Welsh university was able to reach the highest standard, and three opted out of the exercise altogether, shows that our higher education sector has more work to do.”