Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when universities and students across the EU will receive clarity on which fee regime they will be subject to for the 2021/22 academic year.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
We announced on 28 May 2019 guarantees on student finance for EU nationals. EU nationals (and their family members) who start a course in England in the 2020/21 academic year or before will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status and student finance support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, provided they meet the residency requirement.
Applications for courses starting in the academic year 2021/22 do not open until September 2020. We will provide sufficient notice for prospective EU students on fee arrangements ahead of the 2021/22 academic year.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to announce whether students from the EU will be subject to international student fees or continue to be eligible for home fee status for the 2021/22 academic year.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
We announced on 28 May 2019 guarantees on student finance for EU nationals. EU nationals (and their family members) who start a course in England in the 2020/21 academic year or before will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status and student finance support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, provided they meet the residency requirement.
Applications for courses starting in the academic year 2021/22 do not open until September 2020. We will provide sufficient notice for prospective EU students on fee arrangements ahead of the 2021/22 academic year.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the potential impact on (1) higher education institutions, and (2) access to higher education, of the proposals of the report Independent panel report: post-18 review of education and funding, published on 30 May 2019, to remove funding for foundation year courses.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
?Philip Augar and his independent panel have made thoughtful recommendations on tuition fee levels and loan repayment, the balance of funding between universities, further education, apprenticeships and adult learning, and we will consider all these recommendations carefully.
We are considering the report carefully but have not yet taken decisions with regard to the recommendations put forward.
As my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation announced on 20 January at education oral questions, the government will conclude the review alongside the next Spending Review, providing the sector with clarity about the future of post 18 education and funding.
We want to ensure we have a joined-up education system that is accessible to all and encourages the development of the skills we need as a country.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the proposals of the report Independent panel report: post-18 review of education and funding, published on 30 May 2019, to remove funding for foundation year courses, what plans they to ensure a range of entry routes to degree-level study remain available.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
?Philip Augar and his independent panel have made thoughtful recommendations on tuition fee levels and loan repayment, the balance of funding between universities, further education, apprenticeships and adult learning, and we will consider all these recommendations carefully.
We are considering the report carefully but have not yet taken decisions with regard to the recommendations put forward.
As my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation announced on 20 January at education oral questions, the government will conclude the review alongside the next Spending Review, providing the sector with clarity about the future of post 18 education and funding.
We want to ensure we have a joined-up education system that is accessible to all and encourages the development of the skills we need as a country.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to meet with relevant stakeholders following the report by the Sutton Trust Mobility Manifesto 2019, published on 7 November 2019, to discuss the issues raised in that report.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Sutton Trust Mobility Manifesto 2019 makes 10 recommendations across the areas of Higher and Further Education, Early Years, Schools and Internships. The department continues to engage with a range of stakeholders in order to understand what children and young people need, so that they can express their talents and make the most of their lives.
For example, the department is working with the Early Intervention Foundation and Local Government Association to deliver a programme of early years social mobility peer reviews, focused on early language outcomes.
We have signed a joint understanding with the Independent Schools Council; through which we are working to increase the number of disadvantaged pupils who benefit from targeted bursaries and other forms of assistance offered voluntarily by independent schools.
We have endorsed a proposal to use the Office for Students’ (OfS) review of the admissions system to consider the pros and cons of potential models of Post Qualification Application. The OfS has also encouraged the use of contextual admissions and we support such initiatives.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposals to establish a scheme of contextualised university offers to assist those from disadvantaged backgrounds; and what plans, if any, they have to support such a scheme.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Universities are independent, autonomous bodies. As such, they are responsible for their own admissions decisions.
We are aware that many universities already adopt contextual admissions practices, to widen access of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Office for Students has encouraged the use of contextual admissions and the Government supports such initiatives.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet with relevant stakeholders to discuss the implementation of a system of post-qualification admissions to UK universities.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Universities are independent, autonomous bodies. As such, they are responsible for their own admissions decisions.
The Office for Students is conducting a review of the admissions system and have committed to keeping Ministers and officials regularly informed of the emerging views and any recommendations from this work. The review is due to report later this year.
The Government has endorsed the proposal to use the review to consider the pros and cons of potential models of Post Qualification Application.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what budget provision they have made for the Erasmus Plus international student exchange programme beyond 2020.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The Political Declaration states the UK is open to participation in certain EU programmes, such as the next Erasmus+ programme (2021-27), if it is in our interest to do so. The proposed regulations for the next 2021-27 Erasmus+ programme are still being discussed in the EU and have yet to be finalised. Our future participation will be subject to negotiations on the UK-EU relationship. Decisions on future budget provisions are a matter for the Comprehensive Spending Review.
The UK Government wants to ensure that UK and European students can continue to benefit from each other’s world-leading education systems. We are considering a wide range of options with regards to the future of international exchange and collaboration in education and training, including potential domestic alternatives.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commit to funding (1) the Erasmus+, and (2) the Horizon research, programme beyond 2020.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The government places great value upon international exchange and collaboration in education and training. It is also committed to continuing to back UK researchers and innovators by supporting measures to enable world-class collaborative research and innovation. This will continue to be the case after we leave the EU and establish new relationships with institutions across Europe and the rest of the world.
If it is in the UK’s interests, we will seek to participate in some specific EU programmes as a third country. While the regulations for future EU programmes are still in the process of being developed, the draft Political Declaration envisages the possibility of UK participation in EU programmes like Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe post-2020. Officials are preparing for all eventualities and are considering a wide range of options with regard to the future of international exchange and cooperation in education and research.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to fund a UK-wide replacement for the Erasmus+ scheme if the UK cannot associate with the next programme in 2021–27.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The government places great value upon international exchange and collaboration in education and training. This will continue to be the case after we leave the EU and establish new relationships with academic institutions across Europe and the rest of the world.
If it is in the UK’s interests, we will seek to participate in specific EU programmes as a third country. While the regulations for future EU programmes are still in the process of being developed, the draft Political Declaration envisages the possibility of UK participation in EU programmes like Erasmus+ and the negotiation of general terms of participation. Officials are preparing for all eventualities and are considering a wide range of options with regard to the future of international exchange. These include potential domestic alternatives to the Erasmus+ programme for the 2020/21 academic year and beyond, should we need them.