The voice of the learner: Cengage higher education director in OEB panel
Andrew Robinson, Director of Higher Education EMEA at Cengage Learning, shares his thoughts on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and how the UK’s 120+ universities can best prepare for its arrival, and discusses the need to keep the UK’s universities competitive in the wake of Brexit. OEB, Berlin, 2 Dec.
Andrew and his fellow panellists will be evaluating how technologies can be used to connect learners, give them a voice, the confidence of critical thinkers, empowered and capable to organise their learning. “The Voice of the Learner” Panel Presentation Session ENG35 Friday 2 December - 1.30 to 2.30pm.
Brexit, the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the need to keep Britain’s universities competitive
"In today’s higher education climate, students have a more powerful voice on the quality and value of their learning. High quality teaching has a correlation with students’ willingness to learn independently, so how do universities achieve the balance of providing enough guidance and support but also empowering students to ‘go it alone’?" Andrew Robinson, Director of Higher Education EMEA, Cengage.
At stages in a student’s life, whether it’s before they enter university or during, there will be much focus on their careers and what they need to do to enhance their employability and life chances. One way to give students the confidence and skills they need is to give them the platform to build a library of graded work through their time at university and create portfolios to highlight specific skills, knowledge or competencies when applying for jobs or furthering their education.
Then at the course level, offering study tools and resources that are engaging and easily accessible, and where they can discuss content and feedback with their peers, will set a solid foundation for which they can explore learning opportunities for themselves, with their tutors or classmates.
Tools that give students visibility of their progress, their work and with the provision of instant feedback, will support their studies and life beyond the classroom. For the educator, solutions such as Pathbrite and MindTap by Cengage help to create an environment that removes obstacles that can hinder a student’s confidence, while enablingthem to develop the ability for inquiry and critical evaluation.
Britain’s decision to leave the EU was met with consternation by the HE community, many of whom voiced concerns about losing 2.6% of their total income from the EU1, 16% of their research income2 and its impact on the free movement of over 125,0003 fee-paying EU students.
Like its competitors the US and Australia, the UK has always been viewed by foreign students as attractive and competitively priced, but following Brexit, a steady flow of students from the EU can no longer be guaranteed. So it will be more important than ever to remain highly competitive and to ensure the UK is the ‘go to’ point for high quality teaching and learning.
The Teaching Excellence Framework, which will see the government monitoring and assessing the quality of teaching in British universities – viewed by some as an unwelcome intervention – is set to become more important than ever in our post-EU world.
1 & 2 Fullfact.org – How much money do British Universities get from the EU
3 UKCISA - International student statistics – UK Higher Education
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About Cengage Learning
Cengage Learning is a leading educational content, technology, and services company for the higher education and K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. The company provides superior content, personalized services and course-driven digital solutions that accelerate student engagement and transform the learning experience. Cengage Learning is headquartered in Boston, MA with an office hub located in San Francisco, CA. Cengage Learning employees reside in nearly 40 different countries with company sales in more than 125 countries around the world. www.cengage.com.