Apply to join the TEF panel

We're looking for academics and student representatives to join the panel for the next Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) exercise.

The OfS recently consulted on proposals for a new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) – a national exercise to incentivise improvement and excellence in teaching, learning and student outcomes at universities and colleges.

Under the proposals, a panel of experts would carry out assessments and decide what ratings to award each university and college.

You can now apply to join the TEF panel.

About the roles

By becoming a TEF panel member you will:

• play an important role in ensuring that all students receive a high quality academic experience and good outcomes
• share and develop your own skills and experience by joining a high profile national committee.

We are looking to recruit:

• 40 to 50 academic members who have current or recent leadership responsibility for learning and teaching
• 20 to 25 student members who have current or recent experience of representing students on learning and teaching
• a student deputy panel chair and an academic deputy panel chair.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking individuals who are committed to excellence and driving improvement in learning, teaching and supporting students to achieve positive outcomes.

You will:

• have a good understanding of the diverse experiences and learning needs of students from different backgrounds, and different approaches to learning and teaching
• seek to identify excellence in diverse higher education providers in a rigorous, open minded way
• have the skills to analyse quantitative and qualitative information and reach robust judgements, working collaboratively to make collective decisions. 

We welcome applications from individuals with experience of any type of higher education provider in the UK.

We want to appoint a panel with broad expertise and experience of diverse types of providers. We also aim to appoint members with diverse backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the students whose experience and outcomes the panel would be assessing.

We particularly welcome applications from:

• academics and students from further education colleges, small and specialist higher education providers
• academics who identify as black, Asian or minority ethnic, or are disabled. 

We have found these groups to be underrepresented in applications to join previous TEF panels. 

Time commitments

Our proposed assessment process includes two parts:

1. Panel members would carry out assessments and meet to make provisional ratings decisions about most providers.
2. The panel would make provisional ratings decisions about more complex cases and would consider any representations from universities and colleges about their provisional ratings before deciding final ratings.

We would expect that approximately one third of panel members would continue for part two, while the other two thirds would only be required for part one.

The table below outlines the indicative timing and time commitment required.

Activity	Estimated days commitment	Timing
Preparation (training and calibration)	Approximately five days	Late 2022/early 2023
Assessment: part one	Approximately 25 days	Early/spring 2023
Assessment: part two	Approximately 20 days	Spring to autumn 2023

Fees

We will pay panel members the following fees for their work:

• a flat fee of £6,000 for the first part of the process.
• an additional flat fee of £4,000 for the second part of the process.

We will deduct tax and national insurance from fees paid.

Expenses for meeting attendance will be paid in accordance with our travel and subsistence policy and we will book accommodation for you, if required.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact [email protected].

For the love of teaching

Professor Sir Chris Husbands reflects on what made previous TEF panels successful and what made it rewarding for those involved.