What are Centres for Excellence?
In January 2005, HEFCE announced the outcomes of its largest ever single funding initiative in teaching and learning: the creation of 74 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs).
The CETL initiative has two main aims:
- To reward excellent teaching practice
- To invest in that practice further in order to increase and deepen its impact across a wider teaching and learning community. (HEFCE 2005/17 para.2)
Successful CETLs were awarded funding on the basis of their demonstrated excellence in existing programmes or areas of study; and on the strength of their proposals to develop this excellence further and to widen its impact both within and beyond their institution. Some CETLs are based within a particular discipline; others are focused on generic themes in learning and teaching - such as particular teaching or assessment methods.
Each CETL was funded for five years, from 2005 to 2010. In total, HEFCE invested £315 million in the CETL initiative.
Although the work of the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice has largely revolved around the CETL programme the Centre is gradually broadening out its work beyond this specific programme of work.
