Swansea University excels in new Teaching Excellence Framework assessment

Please note, this page has been archived and is no longer being updated.

An independent panel of experts has judged that Swansea University delivers high quality teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It consistently exceeds rigorous national quality requirements for UK higher education and deservedly has been rated worthy of a Silver award.

The TEF Panel stated that our metrics and supporting submission showed that:

  • Students from all backgrounds achieve excellent outcomes
  • Very high proportions of students from all backgrounds continue with their studies or progress to highly skilled employment or further study, notably exceeding the benchmark.
  • Full-time students have very high levels of satisfaction with teaching, academic support and assessment and feedback [NSS 2016]. 
  • Course design provides scope for high levels of stretch, including by working closely with industrial partners in course development and review.
  • High quality personalised learning is embedded across the University with a tutorial system, a specialised centre and attendance monitoring that provides high levels of engagement and commitment to learning and study from students. 
  • The University has an institutional culture that recognises and rewards excellent teaching through professional development, peer observation, a teaching and scholarship promotion route and awards for excellence in learning and teaching.

The UK Government has introduced a voluntary framework for higher education providers which recognises and rewards excellent learning and teaching for undergraduate provision.

TEF silver logo An independent TEF Panel of experts, which includes academics, students and employer representatives, considers evidence from a set of metrics using national data as well as written evidence submitted by the provider. The metrics cover continuation rates, student satisfaction and employment outcomes.

The TEF Year Two awards are intended to inform the decisions of students starting their course in 2018-19. However students starting courses in 2017-18 may also be interested in the awards.

Swansea University is one of seven Welsh Universities who have taken part in the Year Two awards with 299 UK universities, colleges and alternative providers taking part in total.

Professor Martin Stringer, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) welcomed the good news saying: “Swansea University took the decision to enter the Teaching Excellence Framework because it recognises, rewards and encourages excellent teaching and learning in Universities and Colleges and helps students to choose where to study by providing clear information about teaching provision and student outcomes.

“We are delighted that our first entrance to this independent assessment framework has placed us in the Silver category. The process has been useful in highlighting University-wide strengths as well as identifying areas for future focus.

 “We are now conducting a ‘lessons learned’ exercise to ensure our continued success in the TEF Awards with the aim of turning our Silver into Gold.”

Graduation celebration

Swansea University submitted its narrative for the Teaching Excellence Framework to HEFCE at the end of January this year following several months of consultation with staff and students, data gathering and scripting.

Some extremely positive examples of Teaching and Learning at Swansea University were identified, based on performance figures for the TEF2 submission (2014-2016). Not least:

Outstanding Employability and Further Study Rates

  • Swansea University is consistently ranked in the top 20 UK league tables for graduate level employability and further study.
  • 80% of our students went into graduate level employment or further study in the past three years.

Student Achievement

  • 78% of our students obtain a first or upper second honours degree.

Student Satisfaction

  • Our overall student satisfaction in the National Students Survey (NSS) has been ranked within the top 20 for the last three years, scoring 90% or higher. National Student Survey (NSS) 2016.
  • Swansea University has 350 student representatives across all its departments who assist with shaping Swansea students’ learning and teaching experience.  

Welsh University of the Year

  • The University was awarded the first ever Sunday Times Good University Guide Welsh University of the Year, placing us first in the Welsh higher education sector.

Investment in Learning

  • The University spends 13% more per student on teaching and learning facilities, welfare and academic support services and new campus development than the average Higher Education providers.
  • We offer 24/7 access to libraries and computers with specialised software.
     
  • The opening of a new, 65-acre, £450M Bay Campus has enhanced the student learning environment. Further developments are underway to further improve the facilities on all our campuses.

Fulfilling Potential

  • The Swansea Academy of Inclusivity and Learner Success (SAILS) enables our students to have access to the right academic and pastoral support to succeed in their studies.

Support to Achieve

  • The WhatUni Student Choice Awards has ranked Swansea University  Student Support in the top 5.

International Opportunities

  • Our students now have access to travel to over 20 countries worldwide.
     
  • 86% strongly agree the experience improved their learning and graduate outcome.

For more information about Teaching Excellence at Swansea University, click here.