A Silver award represents a judgement that a higher education provider significantly and consistently exceeds the quality threshold for UK higher education. The evidence includes achieving excellent outcomes for students, high levels of intellectual challenge, high quality physical and digital learning resources and an institutional culture that recognises and rewards excellent teaching.

The panel commended the University of Bedfordshire for its promotion of active and personalised learning, the academic support provided to students and its investment in the learning environment and learning resources. The University’s recognition and reward scheme for good teaching was also commended, in which Bedfordshire has one of the highest proportions of teaching staff with professional recognition of any university in the country.

Bill Rammell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, said: “This is an outstanding result for the University and shows that we are providing excellent and innovative teaching for all our students. The student experience is our first priority at the University of Bedfordshire and this award is evidence of a lot of hard work by staff, in partnership with our students to enable them to fulfil their potential.”

The University of Bedfordshire is leading in key aspects of the learning experience, with student satisfaction with assessment and feedback and with their personal development among the highest of all UK universities.

The University has a proud history of delivering high quality teaching and excellent outcomes. It was recently commended by the Quality Assurance Agency for its enhancement of student learning opportunities. Such a commendation is only granted to 30 per cent of Universities.

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.”

Further information:

• The Teaching Excellence Framework - the first scheme of its kind - recognises excellent teaching and learning across the UK’s world-class higher education sector.
• In order to be considered for a TEF rating, higher education providers have to meet demanding national quality requirements. The TEF measures excellence above and beyond this.
• The TEF awards are decided by an independent panel of experts, including academics, students and employer representatives. Universities and colleges are assessed against a set of measures which use national data and evidence submitted by the university or college.
• The TEF measures teaching excellence in three key areas:
  • Teaching quality: teaching that stimulates and challenges students, and maximises their engagement with their studies
  • Learning environment: the effectiveness of resources and activities (such as libraries, laboratories and work experience) which support learning and improve retention, progression and attainment
  • Student outcomes: the extent to which all students achieve their educational and professional goals, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds.