Pursuing Teaching Excellence in Higher Education - Inclusive

In this review of Pursuing Teaching Excellence in Higher Education: Towards an Inclusive Perspective, the bottom line is clear: this book is for educators and administrators who want a thoughtful reframe of what teaching excellence means beyond metrics. Wood's investigation challenges the narrow, performative discourse and argues for broader, stakeholder-driven understandings; readers seeking a practical manifesto will find rigorous argumentation rather than prescriptive checklists. The single biggest reason to read it is its sustained focus on inclusion and the role of higher education in shaping definitions of excellence.

Key Features

• Critical reframing: The authors interrogate the dominant quantitative framing of teaching excellence, encouraging readers to consider qualitative and contextual perspectives.
• Stakeholder focus: The book foregrounds multiple higher education constituencies, showing how different stakeholders bring distinct values to the idea of excellence.
• Contextual inquiry: It links discussions of excellence to the broader purpose and role of higher education, helping readers situate teaching practice within institutional aims.
• Inclusive perspective: The text argues for building more inclusive conceptions of excellence through engagement and dialogue rather than top-down measurement.
• Research-informed: Wood and Su draw on investigation and analysis to rethink assumptions, offering a considered academic approach rather than quick fixes.

Who It's For

This book is best for higher education faculty, department leaders, and academic policy makers who are wrestling with evaluation systems, curriculum priorities, and the purpose of university teaching. Those involved in staff development or institutional strategy will appreciate the sustained argument for stakeholder engagement and inclusivity.

Readers looking for hands-on classroom techniques or step-by-step assessment tools may want a complementary practical manual, because the book is primarily analytic and conceptual rather than a how-to guide for lesson-level practice.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a thoughtful, research-driven critique of measurement-focused notions of teaching excellence.
• Highlights diverse stakeholder perspectives, making it useful for institutional dialogue and policy discussion.
• Connects teaching excellence to the broader mission of higher education, which helps reframe evaluation debates.

Cons

• The book is conceptual and analytic, so readers seeking practical classroom strategies may find the content less immediately actionable.

Specifications

Title	Pursuing Teaching Excellence in Higher Education: Towards an Inclusive Perspective
Author	Margaret Wood
Scope	Conceptual investigation of teaching excellence and stakeholder perspectives
Focus	Inclusive understandings and critiques of measurement-driven approaches
Audience	Higher education faculty, administrators, policy makers
Approach	Research-informed analysis and stakeholder engagement

Our Verdict

Pursuing Teaching Excellence in Higher Education is a valuable read for academics and institutional leaders who want to rethink evaluation culture and promote inclusive definitions of excellence. Its analytical depth and stakeholder emphasis make it good value for those interested in policy, strategy, and the purpose of higher education, though readers seeking practical classroom tools should pair it with more applied resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book practical for classroom teachers?
The book is primarily conceptual and policy-oriented, so classroom teachers will gain perspective but may need a practical guide for day-to-day techniques.

Who contributed to the stakeholder perspectives?
The text explores a range of higher education constituencies and voices to show how different stakeholders frame excellence.

Does it address measurement and metrics?
Yes; a central theme is critiquing narrow, performative, and measurement-focused approaches to teaching excellence and proposing more inclusive alternatives.