Perceived value in Teaching Qualifications

Six years ago my parents-in-law celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversery (60 years).  Our family arranged that The Queen (God Bless Her) sent a special card to them celebrating this marvellous milestone (cost £0).  The card, after a decent interval, was then placed in the care of an excellent frame-maker who returned it to them, mounted and displayed and it enjoys pride of place in their dining room.

COURTESY OF ROYALIMAGES.CO.UK - THE QUEEN'S (GOD BLESS HER) MESSAGE FOR WEDDING ANNIVERSERIES AND CENTENARIANS.

Last year my parents-in-law celebrated their Blue Sapphire Wedding Anniversery (65 years).  Once again our family arranged that the Queen (God Bless Her) sent a special card to them celebrating this even rarer and even more marvellous milestone.  This time the Palace (I doubt it was Her Majesty herself) included in the package a flyer for  an official, Royal Standard imprinted, display frame (£59.40 inc. P&P).  In the five years since the Diamond Anniversery the Palace had discovered a revenue enhancing and value enhancing way in which to make the special occasion even more special.  The frame nestles next to the previous frame and has pride of place in their dining room.

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In early 2015 I received news that I had successfully applied to become a "Diamond" Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (cost £400).  Next stop would be the "Blue Sapphire" Principal Fellow status (cost £500) - I cannot wait...

The notification of my success arrived from York with a clickable link to allow me to download and print my own certificate!!  Now, the HEA is not as well funded as The Palace and not as well as it once was and needs the revenues that the FHEA, SFHEA and PFHEA appplications bring and so this parsimony is well understood.

However, if the HEA and the Universities promoting Teaching Qualifications, in order to look good for the TEF metrics, value the actual accolade and qualification in this way then what value are we supposed to give them?