Blogs

“This is not about doing the right thing – this is about survival, and we’re not ready to die yet” was one of the powerful opening statements at a simulation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations that I attended last month . 

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question asked many times throughout the early stages of our lives by just about everyone in a young person’s circle: parents, teachers and friends. It is often the ambitions and dreams we carry that shape our choices and daily decisions, setting us on our individual paths. But what if you don’t know what you want to be?

What is the TEF?

The teaching excellence framework (TEF) is a system that assesses the quality of teaching in universities in England. It also includes some universities from Scotland and Wales.

The framework was introduced by the government in 2017 to provide a resource for students to judge teaching quality in universities and to increase the importance of teaching excellence (and bring it into line with research excellence) when rating institutions. It is important to note that currently the TEF analyses only undergraduate teaching.

The teaching excellence framework is a government-approved system that rates higher and further education institutions and alternative education providers with a gold, silver or bronze rating.

The framework was introduced in 2017 to judge teaching quality in different institutions. The ratings are determined by six core metrics based on teaching, academic support and progression to employment. Colleges also submitted a 15-page document to a panel of higher education experts and students, which was used alongside the metrics to determine their rating.

Sexual violence is a major issue in our society and affects many students. Research by Revolt Sexual Violence found that 70 per cent of incidents reported by students happened on campus.

As graduation season in the US comes to an end for another year, it’s time to look back on the achievements and successes of the graduating class. And of course to look at the amazing graduation caps that students have designed to wear at their graduation ceremony. 

It has become a key tradition in many US universities for students to put their own personal touches to their graduation caps, the more elaborate the better. Some universities will even hold competitions to find the best ones so it’s always important to bring your A game. 

US president Donald Trump flew into London this week, adding to his ever-burgeoning carbon footprint. If you remember, he elected to take the world’s biggest polluter out of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017.

In the US, it is tradition for actors, musicians, authors, politicians and successful business people to deliver a rousing, inspirational speech to set university graduates on the path to greatness.

This year was no different, with Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Garner, Pierce Brosnan, Pharrell Williams, Viola Davis and Hillary Clinton delivering some words of wisdom to college graduates as they prepare to step out into the world.

On the Times Higher Education Student Twitter feed (@THEUniAdvice), we sometimes ask students to look after the account for a week to share their university experiences. 

It’s been a long time coming but the Augar Review, a major review of education in the UK, has finally been released.

Many of the key recommendations look at ways of reducing student debt and eliminating the perception that university is purely for students from higher-income families.