Loughborough University has been awarded triple gold – the highest accolade possible – in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023).
The University is the only higher education provider in the East Midlands to achieve triple gold recognition – a distinction earned by just 15% of the 175 HE institutions whose results have been released today (Thursday 28 September).
It puts Loughborough among a select group of high tariff universities – with Bath, Cambridge, Exeter, Oxford and Warwick – acknowledged for their commitment to delivering exceptional teaching, fostering effective learning, and attaining outstanding student outcomes.
The TEF is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS) that aims to encourage HEinstitutions to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.
The TEF does this by assessing and rating universities and colleges for excellence above a set of minimum requirements for quality and standards.
Providers that take part in the TEF receive an overall rating as well as two underpinning ratings – one for the student experience and one for student outcomes.These are all ranked at bronze, silver or gold.
The ratings reflect the extent to which a provider delivers an excellent experience and outcomes for its mix of undergraduate students and across the range of its undergraduate courses and subjects.
Loughborough has been awarded gold in its overall rating, as well as in the student experience and student outcomes categories.
Speaking about this incredible achievement, Professor Rachel Thomson, Loughborough’s ProVice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience who led the University’s TEF submission said: “I am really proud of what we have all achieved over the TEF period. This is a huge team effort from all of our dedicated and fabulous staff across campus in partnership with our amazing students. Thank you to all who support our students through and beyond their Loughborough journey.”
Alice Robinson, who led the University’s student submission for TEF, added:“I am so proud of all the staff and students who helped make this happen. Loughborough truly is a great place and I’m so pleased for us to be recognised so highly for everything we have achieved.”
Professor Nick Jennings, the Loughborough’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “This is very well-deserved recognition for staff across the University and Students’ Union, who work tirelessly to ensure every student at Loughborough achieves their very best and is ready to succeed in their chosen careers.”
The ratings of the TEF 2023 exercise are valid for four years.