National assessment says DMU provides an "empowering learning environment" for students

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) creates a “supportive, nurturing community” which empowers students, according to a national evaluation.

The university was awarded an overall Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), a government-backed assessment of higher education institutions.

Earlier this year, the overall rating was released, along with some key findings but today, the full TEF report, detailing all the evaluating panel’s assessments, has been published, along with both the university’s submission, and that prepared by the De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU), both of which were assessed by the TEF panel in completing the review.

And when describing the overall learning experience at DMU, the report noted that at DMU, a “supportive and nurturing community of academics, students and expert advisers create an empowering learning environment which is successful in attracting a diverse student body.”

Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: “For me, it is a report in which we take a great deal of pride.

“Empowerment – for staff and students - is at the core of our strategy.

“So, it is very pleasing to see this review recognise this, together with many of the strengths we collectively work so hard to deliver, particularly those around supporting students from wide and underrepresented backgrounds.”

READ THE FULL DMU TEF REPORT

Overall, the university was rated as Silver, saying the experience students have, and the outcomes they achieve, are very high quality.

Two particular elements are highlighted as being outstanding: the support DMU provides for the professional development of staff, and the way the university articulates both the educational gains it intends students to receive, and why those gains are highly relevant to students and their future ambitions.

But many other aspects have been described as very high quality. One of those is the way DMU incorporates its research, innovation, scholarship and professional practice into its teaching, creating a very high academic experience for students.

This refers to DMU’s incorporation of sustainability and employability into all aspects of its teaching. It also refers to the way academics imbue their teaching with their advances in research, or are informed by professional practice of their subject.

The report also held up several examples of positive examples of student engagement: working with students and empowering them as co-creators in strategy, regular student participation in university meetings, monthly catch-ups with the Vice-Chancellor and a paid Student Leader to challenge everyday norms of university life.

The range of careers and wellbeing support DMU offers students is credited as very high quality, with the Healthy DMU programme and personalised employability development tools among examples mentioned.

Sarah Bradley, chief executive officer of the De Montfort Students’ Union, said: “DSU and DMU have one of the strongest students' union-to-university relationships that I've experienced and the results speak for themselves.

“Authentic student voice and true collaborative partners are what SUs and Universities should be. We're proud DMU's results and our students and Officers contributions to the student submission and are looking forward to continuing to work in partnership with our university in this and many more matters.”