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The �������� has been awarded the highest overall rating of Gold in the (TEF 2023) announced today (28 September).

TEF is a across universities and higher education providers in England and Wales, designed to give students a clear and independent indication of quality. �������� is one of only 27 Gold rated universities in England and one of five Gold rated universities in the South East.

The University also achieved Gold in the last TEF review in 2017. This renewed accreditation, which lasts for four years, confirms the sustained and consistent nature of the University’s outstanding offer to students and ranks �������� amongst the top universities in the UK for teaching.

A panel of experts, including academics and students, assessed a wide range of evidence about student experience and outcomes, together with written submissions from both the University and the �������� Students’ Union (UPSU). They judged �������� to be among the very top universities for teaching excellence. The student experience and student outcomes are typically outstanding.

The panel commended the University’s innovative approach to learning and teaching, and a culture that celebrates this. Particular aspects that were commended include:

·       Supporting student success: The panel found that the University’s approach is outstanding, ranging from ‘Arrive and thrive’ pre-arrival support and tailored orientation for students, through to careers support for five years after graduation.

·       Course content and delivery: Panel feedback recognised that through real-life and simulated learning, co-curricular activities and a  research-informed curriculum, ‘the provider’s course content and delivery inspire the provider’s students to actively engage in and commit to their learning, and stretch students to develop knowledge and skills to their fullest potential.’
 

·       Teaching, assessment and feedback: The panel highlighted that ‘innovative blended and connected pedagogy promotes student engagement and success’, noting that the university ‘culture promotes and celebrates outstanding innovative learning and teaching.’
 

·       Learning environment and academic support: The University ‘ensures its students have access to a readily available range of outstanding quality academic support.’ The panel praised support tailored to students’ needs, including students with disabilities. It also recognised that ‘Personal Tutors are critical to supporting academic progress, helping students understand assessments, guiding decisions about options and course mobility plus career planning.’

Professor Graham Galbraith, Vice-Chancellor of the ��������, said: “Our Gold award demonstrates the amazing teaching and learning activities and innovations taking place across the University, and the brilliant outcomes our students achieve as they gain their qualifications and move on to excellent graduate jobs or further study.

“We pride ourselves in providing a world-class education, and an outstanding and supportive student experience and it is so wonderful to see this core element of our activities being recognised and acknowledged by the Office for Students based on this assessment by an independent panel of experts, including academics and students.

“What makes this award even more special, is the fact that evidence of excellence in teaching was not just provided by our staff and our metrics, but was supported by our students' independent submission to the judging panel. There is no better example of how important the voice of our students is and how by listening to them we can enhance what we do.”

This latest success follows ��������’s Top 20 position in England for learning resources and academic support as reported by the National Student Survey, and its rise to 33rd in The Guardian Good University Guide.  �������� was named as one of the UK’s top 50 universities, according to the 2024 edition of the QS World University Rankings and reclaimed its top 50 place in the Complete University Guide.

Professor Galbraith added: “We are clear in our ambition for student success, impactful research and continuous improvement and our Gold ranking and other recent results externally validates our progress to achieving our Vision ‘To be the top modern university in the UK and one of the top 100 young universities in the world by 2030.”

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