University of Derby achieves Gold for teaching excellence

The University of Derby has been awarded Gold by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in the country’s first ever Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), putting it in the top 20% of all providers in the UK.

Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel judged that the University of Derby delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students, and is of the highest quality found in the UK.

In its decision letter, HEFCE highlighted the University’s engagement with employers, personalised learning, engagement of students, outstanding resources, and its culture of excellent teaching, as particular areas of strength.

TEF links the funding of Higher Education to teaching quality. It has been introduced by the Government to encourage and raise the profile of teaching excellence in universities and colleges and is intended to help people choose where to study, by providing clear information about teaching provision and student outcomes.

University of Derby Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, said: “I am incredibly proud that the University has been awarded a Gold rating for teaching excellence.

“We have built a strong reputation in terms of our teaching quality, and the Gold rating is confirmation that we are delivering to the highest standard. We put our students at the heart of everything we do and are pleased to see that our excellent student experience, and the hard work of our staff, is recognised in the TEF.

“We have huge ambitions for the University and our students, and this Gold rating provides the perfect platform on which to further build our academic quality and our regional, national and international impact in the months and years to come.”

Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said: “Students invest significant amounts of time and money in their higher education. They rightly expect a high-quality learning experience and outcomes that reflect their potential. The UK already has a high bar for quality and standards, which all universities and colleges must meet. But the TEF judges excellence above and beyond this, clearly showing the highest levels across the sector.

“The TEF measures the things that students themselves say they care about: high-quality, engaged teaching and a supportive, stimulating learning environment which equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential, and then to progress to a good job or further study.”

The University is currently rated number one in the East Midlands for the employability of its students[1], is one of the top 20 UK universities for teaching quality[2], and has invested £150m in its facilities over the past 10 years. In recent years, it has opened a new £10.8m sports centre at Kedleston Road, the Derby Law School building at One Friar Gate Square, plus its campus at Chesterfield, and has just completed a £12.5m STEM facility at Markeaton Street.

There are limited places at Derby available across a range of courses for those looking to start University this September. For those interested in a 2018 start, the University’s next Open Day will be held on Saturday 16 September, at its Derby and Buxton campuses.

For further press information please contact Alice Oliver, University of Derby Head of News, on 01332 592032 or email: a.oliver@derby.ac.uk.

[1] HESA 2016, graduating class over 2,000

[2] The Times and Sunday Times University League Table 2017

Update – August 2021: All current TEF awards, which had been due to expire in summer 2021, have been extended by the Office for Students until the outcomes of the next TEF exercise are published, scheduled for early 2023.