Learning is a fundamental aspect of human existence. It forms one of the essential building blocks of growth and development and continues throughout life. We are constantly surrounded by opportunities to learn. Teaching is one of the key activities which shapes and contextualises our learning, and the choice to continue to formally learn beyond compulsory education is an important life choice, driven by a number of factors. It is a choice that an increasing number of young people and mature students take in the United Kingdom. The Higher Education (HE) sector is eager to demonstrate the benefits of continued post-compulsory education and the importance of a ‘good’ learning experience. The well-used term ‘teaching excellence’ is often employed as an articulation of the pedagogy, learning and learner experience, which come together to ensure effective teaching. There are inherent problematic issues in seeking to universally compare teaching and in finding ways to articulate and measure what can be diverse learning experiences.

This book explores the importance of teaching excellence and how this has risen to prominence in a changing landscape of HE where access to university education has been substantially increased. The book explores some of the factors which have shaped the provision of HE and the responses to the challenge of ensuring that students gain a quality education which provides a satisfactory return on their investment in attending university. Taking in the complexities of the differing perspectives on a university education from sector to student and acknowledging the experience of academics who seek to be excellent teachers, this book offers a guide to understanding the key mechanisms by which teaching is measured and evaluated and offers insights into some of the more contemporary innovative methodologies that can help to enhance teaching excellence.

Although offering a broad overview of teaching excellence in the United Kingdom, the book is of course not comprehensive in its coverage. The field of university metrics is extensive, multilayered and diverse; the coverage here will be sufficient to help readers understand the concept of ‘teaching excellence’ and the role of different players and lens through which it is viewed. The following overview of the teaching excellence terrain provides an introduction to inspire further reading and exploration of the areas included here.