Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of Turing Scheme opportunities are (a) study, (b) work and (c) volunteer placements; and what proportion are (i) termly and (ii) yearly placements.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The second year of the Turing Scheme has provided funding for placements in the 2022/23 academic year. Mobility data will be available after the end of the second year of the programme. This includes the proportion of mobilities that are study or work placements, as well as the duration of placements. The department intends to publish this data as soon as possible, following receipt of final reports from participating organisations in the Turing Scheme and requisite analysis and quality assurance of the data.
Currently published information on the placements funded in the last two years by the Turing Scheme is available at: https://www.turing-scheme.org.uk/.
The Turing Scheme aims to have a positive impact on the outcomes of its participants. One of the scheme’s objectives is developing key skills, so that participants develop the skills sought by employers. Applications are assessed on how well they will deliver on this objective.
The department will shortly publish an independent evaluation of the Turing Scheme from its first year of operation, the 2021/22 academic year. This includes an assessment on the short-term benefits students experience in their studies in the coming months. Previous studies show that graduates who have studied or worked abroad are more likely to obtain a first-class honours or an upper second-class degree, have a job six months after graduating, and have higher earnings than their non-mobile peers. Information about this is available at: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/UUKi%20reports/Gone-Intl-2019.pdf.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to publish mobility data for the Turing Scheme for the 2022-23 academic year.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The second year of the Turing Scheme has provided funding for placements in the 2022/23 academic year. Mobility data will be available after the end of the second year of the programme. This includes the proportion of mobilities that are study or work placements, as well as the duration of placements. The department intends to publish this data as soon as possible, following receipt of final reports from participating organisations in the Turing Scheme and requisite analysis and quality assurance of the data.
Currently published information on the placements funded in the last two years by the Turing Scheme is available at: https://www.turing-scheme.org.uk/.
The Turing Scheme aims to have a positive impact on the outcomes of its participants. One of the scheme’s objectives is developing key skills, so that participants develop the skills sought by employers. Applications are assessed on how well they will deliver on this objective.
The department will shortly publish an independent evaluation of the Turing Scheme from its first year of operation, the 2021/22 academic year. This includes an assessment on the short-term benefits students experience in their studies in the coming months. Previous studies show that graduates who have studied or worked abroad are more likely to obtain a first-class honours or an upper second-class degree, have a job six months after graduating, and have higher earnings than their non-mobile peers. Information about this is available at: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/UUKi%20reports/Gone-Intl-2019.pdf.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many providers are delivering Level 4, 5 and 6 courses eligible for Advanced Learner Loan funding; and how many providers delivering these courses are registered with the Office for Students.
Answered by Robert Halfon
In academic year 2021/2022, there were 305 providers in England delivering Level 4, 5 or 6 Advanced Learner Loans funded courses. On 11 July 2023, 140 of those 305 providers were Office for Students (OfS) registered. These statistics can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/further-education-and-skills#explore-data-and-files.
The Government has decided that the OfS will be the regulator of all providers for the delivery of Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) funded provision. The OfS will consult on introducing a new category of registration for providers of courses formerly funded by Advanced Learner Loans, that are not registered with OfS. This includes initial and ongoing conditions that will be applicable for third category providers. More information on this can be found in the LLE consultation response, which can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1140599/Lifelong_Loan_Entitlement_Consultation_Response.pdf.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of people who have (a) started and (b) completed an apprenticeship related to video games on 28 June 2023.
Answered by Robert Halfon
There are several apprenticeship programmes that are related to video games. These will include areas such as animation, programming and digital. Statistics on starts and achievements for individual apprenticeship standards can be found in the Apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of higher education providers under investigation by the Office for Students relating to breaches of (a) academic freedom and (b) freedom of speech in June 2023.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England and is an arm’s length body. The OfS have confirmed that they are conducting an investigation in relation to freedom of speech and academic freedom; however, their investigations are normally confidential. Any decisions to publish information about their investigation is a matter for the OfS.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of apprenticeships that are available for training in the video games sector as of 19 June 2023.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The government is committed to supporting employers in all sectors, including those in the video games industry, to use our high-quality apprenticeships to build the skilled workforces they need now and in the future.
Employers in the video games industry have developed a number of apprenticeship standards, including Level 4 Digital Community Manager, Level 4 Junior Animator, and Level 7 Game Programmer.
The department is increasing funding for apprenticeships in England to £2.7 billion by the 2024/25 financial year to support more employers and learners to benefit from apprenticeships such as these.
The department continues to support the digital sector more broadly and we are promoting flexible training models, such as flexi-job apprenticeships, to make it easier for sectors where short-term, project-based employment is the norm to benefit from apprenticeships. The department is also supporting the Digital Skills Council, led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which brings together government and industry led action to address the current and future demand for digital skills.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of higher education providers under investigation by the Office for Students relating to breaches of their conditions of registration.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England and is an arms-length body. The OfS have confirmed that they have opened over 30 investigations at universities and colleges. Decisions to publish information about their investigation work are a matter for the OfS.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the terms and conditions are for post of the Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom, including the (a) annual salary, (b) pension entitlements and costs and (c) working hours.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department received 16 applications for the role of Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom. Professor Arif Ahmed was appointed to the role on 1 June 2023, and will begin at the Office for Students (OfS) on 14 August.
The Director was appointed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education in the same way that other board members of the OfS are appointed, under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. Officials at the department managed the recruitment process. The department has not conducted an assessment of the costs involved.
The Director role is a full-time executive position. It is a fixed term appointment, with the option of being extended up to a maximum of ten years. The role was advertised with a starting salary of £99,164, but this may be higher due to pay rises in some areas of the public sector in 2022. The Director’s working hours and starting salary will be agreed in his contract with the OfS. The Director will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people applied for the Director of Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom position at the Office for Students.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department received 16 applications for the role of Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom. Professor Arif Ahmed was appointed to the role on 1 June 2023, and will begin at the Office for Students (OfS) on 14 August.
The Director was appointed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education in the same way that other board members of the OfS are appointed, under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. Officials at the department managed the recruitment process. The department has not conducted an assessment of the costs involved.
The Director role is a full-time executive position. It is a fixed term appointment, with the option of being extended up to a maximum of ten years. The role was advertised with a starting salary of £99,164, but this may be higher due to pay rises in some areas of the public sector in 2022. The Director’s working hours and starting salary will be agreed in his contract with the OfS. The Director will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money was spent on the recruitment process for the Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department received 16 applications for the role of Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom. Professor Arif Ahmed was appointed to the role on 1 June 2023, and will begin at the Office for Students (OfS) on 14 August.
The Director was appointed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education in the same way that other board members of the OfS are appointed, under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. Officials at the department managed the recruitment process. The department has not conducted an assessment of the costs involved.
The Director role is a full-time executive position. It is a fixed term appointment, with the option of being extended up to a maximum of ten years. The role was advertised with a starting salary of £99,164, but this may be higher due to pay rises in some areas of the public sector in 2022. The Director’s working hours and starting salary will be agreed in his contract with the OfS. The Director will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.