Computer science departments have produced the lowest proportion of excellent ratings in any of the eight subjects so far assessed for teaching quality by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
The council this week unveiled overview reports on its assessment of computer science, applied social work, architecture and business and management studies.
Of the 96 providers of computer science, only ten or 9.6 per cent, were assessed as excellent - compared to an average 18 per cent across the four subjects as a whole. Two were rated unsatisfactory, of which one has since been reassessed satisfactory. The report notes that about ten institutions were judged to be at the top of the satisfactory grade, but an equal number were reckoned to be "only just satisfactory".
The assessors said that the relatively low gradings were caused partly by the newness of the subject and its dependence on rapidly developing and expensive equipment. There was concern about the provision of equipment in about a quarter of institutions, and about journals and books in nearly half.
There were also problems with dissemination of good practice. More than 30 per cent of reports cited the need for more effective means of sharing teaching and learning materials as well as good practice.
The assessors also pointed to a close relationship between excellent teaching ratings and rankings of 4 or 5 in the last research selectivity exercise. They said: "These institutions, and some others, were able to utilise high quality resources to provide innovative and effective teaching, and extensive opportunities for independent learning by students." A similar correlation was noted in applied social work.
Other subject ratings were: applied social work, 16 excellent, 59 satisfactory, one unsatisfactory; architecture, nine excellent, 20 satisfactory; business and management studies, 19 excellent, 85 satisfactory, one unsatisfactory.
The overview notes that all four subjects have professional elements and good industry and professional links, good employment records and mutual reinforcement of teaching and research are often seen to be connected.
Quality assessment of Applied Social Work (QO 5/95), Architecture (QO 6/95), Business and Management Studies (QO 7/95) and Computer Science (QO 8/95), Pounds 2 each from HEFCE Quality Assessment, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QD