University of the Arts London (UAL) professor Susan Orr has been appointed Chair for a new pilot Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) subject-level panel for the arts.
The appointment comes following an announcement by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) that fifty providers are this year taking part in a pilot exercise to trial approaches to TEF assessments at subject level.
TEF assessments are carried out by a panel of students, leading academics and widening participation experts. Awarding ratings at subject level, as well as institutional level, will give future applicants more detailed information to inform their choices of where to study.
Prof Susan Orr, Dean of Learning, Teaching & Enhancement at UAL, said: “The Arts Subject Panel Pilot will allow for a more granular subject-based understanding of teaching excellence and it is really important for the sector that we get this right.
“As Chair of the Arts Panel, I will be working with students and staff across the fields of arts, design and performing arts in FE and HE to pilot approaches to subject-level TEF. I am delighted to have a role where I can make a direct contribution to this work.”
Simon Ofield-Kerr, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at UAL, said: “As well as being a great personal achievement for Susan, it is also great news for the University.”
The TEF exercise was introduced by the Government to recognise excellent teaching and inform applicants’ choices about where to study. The subject-level pilot is developmental and ratings for the providers taking part will not be published. A second round of pilots will take place next year.