The Rhetoric of Research-Informed Teaching: Unpacking ambitions and assumptions in the UK’s teaching excellence framework

The concept of Research-Informed Teaching (RIT) is widely referenced in higher education discourse, yet its precise definition and implementation remain nebulous and contested. This study critically examines the rhetoric surrounding RIT within England’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), analysing how research is framed as a driver of ‘teaching excellence’ in institutional submissions, yet through a thematic analysis of ‘Russell Group’ university provider statements, a fundamental disconnect between the ambitious claims made about RIT and the implicit assumptions that underpin them is demonstrated. While universities emphasize the transformative potential of research to enrich student learning, the mechanisms through which this occurs are frequently under-theorized and inconsistently articulated.
Findings reveal that RIT is often framed through broad, aspirational narratives that lack clear pedagogical grounding. The study identifies two dominant themes: ‘ambitions,’ which encapsulate explicit claims about the benefits of integrating research into teaching, and ‘assumptions,’ which expose the uncritical and sometimes contradictory ways in which this integration is positioned. Consequently, the TEF’s high-stakes performative nature can be seen to further incentivise superficial engagement with RIT, prioritizing institutional positioning and recognition over substantive pedagogical development.
Ultimately, this research highlights the rhetorical function of RIT within the TEF and its implications for teaching excellence. Without clearer conceptual and empirical grounding, RIT risks remaining a convenient yet unsubstantiated ideal rather than a tangible educational practice. The study calls for a more critically rigorous, ‘evidence-based’ and reflective approach to embedding research within teaching, ensuring that claims of integration align with genuine pedagogical outcomes rather than performative institutional rhetoric.
Keywords: Ambitions and Assumptions; Research Informed Teaching; Research Teaching Nexus; Teaching Excellence Framework; Thematic Analysis