University and college awarded gold for teaching excellence

The University of Derby and Derby College Group have been awarded gold status for teaching excellence.

Both institutions secured golds in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, a national scheme run by the Office for Students.

The scheme aims to encourage higher education providers to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.

As well as achieving overall gold, the University of Derby was awarded gold for student experience and silver for student outcomes.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “We’re delighted that we have once again been awarded gold in the TEF and I am so proud of colleagues at the University of Derby for their hard work and commitment to excellence which has resulted in this fantastic achievement.”

Derby College Group achieved overall silver, with another silver for student experience and gold for student outcomes.

Deputy principal Kate Martin said: “We pride ourselves in providing exceptional education and fostering an environment of innovation and inclusivity.

“We are proud of our achievements and remain committed to providing our students with the best possible educational experience.”

The TEF ratings aim to 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. 228 providers took part in TEF 2023.

The University of Derby was awarded gold when the framework first launched in 2017, and its latest success comes off the back of recent achievements in the National Student Survey 2023, in which it was ranked in the Top 20 nationally.

It was also included in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, where it was rated in the Top 20 for teaching quality, and in the Top 20 in the UK for overall student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2024.

Professor Mitchell said: “Our students are at the heart of all that we do at the University of Derby, and we are fully focused on ensuring that they receive the highest-quality teaching and learning experience, one that is underpinned by innovation, academic excellence, ground-breaking research and is aligned to industry needs.

“We are proud to have established a strong reputation for learning and teaching over the years, reinforced by this TEF result, and we will continue to drive forward as an ambitious, applied university which focuses on enabling students to achieve the best possible outcomes for their future.”

Professor Keith McLay, provost – learning and teaching at the university, said: “Our approach to learning and teaching at Derby is one that is student-focused, tailored and inclusive, to ensure our students get an outstanding experience during their time with us and that they are challenged to fulfil their full potential.

“We have invested significantly in our learning and teaching frameworks and take seriously our role in providing students with not only state-of-the-art facilities, but ensuring they are surrounded by academic rigour, excellence and expertise. We are therefore delighted with this result.”

Derby College Group said it was particularly proud of its gold award for student outcomes, which is based on the extent to which all students achieve their educational and professional goals and the student overall experience during their higher educational journey.

The TEF praised the college in a range of areas including the tailored support offered, the pastoral care it delivers, its ‘excellent completion and progression rates’ and the student voice.

Kate said: “Higher education is an important part of our work at DCG and our undergraduate students add to the diversity that makes our DCG such a special place.

“And DCG looks forward to continuing its journey of excellence, setting new aspirations in further and higher education, and empowering future generations of leaders and innovators.

“It is fantastic to be recognised by TEF for our higher education provision.”