Morning, Friday, 21st November 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for assessing and enhancing the quality of education students receive in HEIs in England, including the evolving role of the TEF as the Office for Students develops a new approach to assessing teaching quality and standards - in light of the launch of the OfS’ recently published consultation proposing a revised TEF.
TEF reform & shifting to continuous assessment
With the seminar taking place as the consultation is conducted, it will be an opportunity to examine the proposed shift towards a continuous, embedded model of quality assessment, replacing periodic submissions with rolling evaluations integrated into the broader regulatory cycle - with aims to integrate assessment activities, reduce burden, and provide a clear view of quality delivered by different providers. Delegates will consider how the revised framework can best address concerns raised in the OfS’ Evaluation of Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 around regulatory burden, consistency in assessment, and the need for contextual sensitivity.
We also expect discussion on the OfS’ final Strategy 2025-2030, which is expected to set out proposals for a risk-based, proportionate quality model, an expanded scope covering postgraduate and transnational provision from the second cycle of TEF, and new mechanisms for early intervention in underperforming institutions.
Adapting to ongoing quality oversight & evolving performance expectations
Implications of reform for providers, regulators, and policymakers will be assessed, with an expected shift in the framework from a periodic, standalone exercise to a core component of a continuous and risk-based approach to quality assurance. Areas for discussion include what will be needed from the revised framework to best support long-term institutional improvement, deliver public accountability, and inform student choice.
Discussion will consider the potential impact of the proposed introduction of published ratings with strengthened incentives and interventions on quality improvement across the sector, as well as the introduction of monitoring between TEF assessments on responsiveness in areas that have been identified for improvement. Questions raised by stakeholders will also be discussed, particularly around fairness, transparency, and the capacity to recognise diverse forms of excellence.
Delegates will consider strategic options for institutions in responding to evolving expectations around educational gain, graduate success, the transparency of performance data, and options for contextual considerations in measuring student outcomes. They will examine options for addressing strategic and operational challenges facing providers as they engage with this next phase of quality assurance reform.
Insights from devolved & international quality models
It will be an opportunity to explore insights from devolved and international quality frameworks, including the enhancement-led approach in Scotland, which emphasises collaboration, continuous improvement, and student partnership over compliance. Discussion will also look at the potential for further alignment of the UK’s quality assurance system with European standards and guidelines to support international recognition and facilitate transnational education.
Balancing regulation with innovation & inclusion in future Teaching Excellence Framework design
In light of sector calls for a more proportionate and developmental approach to quality - particularly for low-risk, high-performing providers - the agenda includes a focus on how regulation can better support innovation, collaboration, and improvement.
Sessions will consider whether the current system strikes an adequate balance between consistency and contextualisation, how it accommodates different models of excellence, and how it supports providers with distinctive missions or non-traditional pathways. This includes examining how the TEF can evolve to recognise a broader spectrum of institutional strengths, including those with widening participation profiles or rapidly changing provision.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Business and Trade; Department for the Economy, NI; and the Welsh Government.
