New Development In The Quality Assessment Of British Higher Education

As the latest achievement of British higher education quality management mechanism in teaching quality evaluation,the introduction of Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework(TEF)marks the transformation of British higher education teaching paradigm.The implementation of TEF has caused a tremendous response.Based on the government’s role as a market mechanism and performance incentive,this TEF has provoked fierce competitions in terms of the quality of education and teaching,the educational environment,the outcomes and benefits of learning in British colleges and universities.Meanwhile,it places students in a more central position in higher education,showing more transparent quality information for all stakeholders including the government,students,parents,employers,etc.More importantly,this alters the unbalanced position between teaching and scientific research,intensifies the fundamental status of teaching colleges and universities,which is of great significance to promote talent cultivation,disciplinary development as well as the growth of knowledge-based economy.The author of the research asserts the conception that the TEF based on risk assessment module is a further extension of the management policy of higher education policy of British Neoliberalism.Through the focus on teaching quality assessment,the value orientation of this TEF is to continuously deepen the marketization of higher education,reduce the intervention of political power and broaden the market and student rights.In the fields of governmental guidance and market competition,colleges and universities took advantage of academic power more consciously to promote the efficiency,quality and income of education.Greater autonomy was granted to meet the demands of relevant stakeholders.In the bilateral interaction between academic freedom and social responsibility,colleges and universities burst out the connotative development vitality of the multi-characteristics of higher education teaching.Through documentary,and historical comparative researches,this paper systematically and profoundly investigated the core research object of Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework on the basis of game theory.The author deeply explored and analyzed its background,clarified the updated framework,future development and impact of TEF.The author also analyzed the possible negative effects of its core controversy.Finally,based on the above research,the author put forward adaptive enlightenment and suggestions for the development of higher education connotation and the improvement of teaching quality assessment system in China.The introduction consists of six parts: the origin,significance,literature review,theoretical basis,research approach and innovation.On the basis of literature review,this author clarified the main viewpoints of the theoretical background,realistic motivation,core controversy and development tendency of TEF both at home and abroad,which further illustrated the theoretical basis,the methods and emphasis of research and its innovation.Chapter Ⅰ analyzes the background of TEF.This chapter is the cornerstone of this research.From the three aspects of the guiding ideology of British Neoliberalism,the practice of quality management and the call of the concerning stakeholders to excellent teaching,the author explored the theoretical roots,historical background and realistic motivation affecting the management mechanism of British higher education and TEF.The author clarified the development process from political intervention to academic revitalization of the quality management mechanism of British higher education in the cooperative game among stakeholders.The introduction and implementation of TEF just stems from the above background.Chapter Ⅱ is about the content and implementation of TEF.This chapter is the core of this research.TEF owns the characteristic of dynamic adjustment.By synthesizing the updated policy and framework,this research clarifies the framework,the subject,procedure and results of assessment of TEF from a micro perspective.Particularly,this research elaborates the second pilot assessment at both the subject-level and provider level,keeping abreast of its latest development and prospects.Meanwhile,this research analyzes the practical impact of TEF on relevant stakeholders from the perspectives of colleges and universities,students,employers and governments respectively.Chapter Ⅲ discriminates the controversy of TEF.Based on the research on background and implementation,this chapter is the focus of the research.Based on the development tendency of political power ’ s decreased intervention in quality management of higher education and the expansion of autonomy of colleges and universities as well as market power,this research clarifies the essence of TEF controversy,which is the battle between academic power and political power,academic power,market power and students’ rights.Furthermore,this research also clarifies the possible negative impacts,emphasizing that not only colleges and universities but also teachers are supposed to adhere to the doctrines of university.Chapter Ⅳ is about the experience and enlightenment of TEF.This chapter is vital to the whole research.Due to the differences between national and social conditions and development phases,this research clarifies its advantages and experience which is applicable to our country through a throughout investigation of TEF.This research also put forward the following adaptive suggestions for the connotation development of Chinese higher education and the completion of teaching quality assessment system: to promote the comprehensive development of all students through moral education cultivation and student-center orientation;to continuously promote the improvement of “light touch” assessment through multi-participation and date base completion;to connect with economic and social development demands through transparent information and performance-linked incentives;to guide the pluralistic and equitable development of colleges and universities through classification assessment and characteristic excellence teaching.