The UK Government has announced new measures aimed at attracting more overseas students, boosting access to global student exchanges for thousands of people, and supporting international education partnerships.
The updated International Education Strategy, led by the UK Department for Education (DfE) and the UK Department for International Trade (DIT), will work alongside the new Turing scheme, focused on supporting the education sector to build back better from the pandemic by boosting global growth opportunities.
Recall following the announcement of a £110 million Turing scheme was announced, a new website went live with funding and eligibility details so that universities, colleges and schools to prepare for bids to open in Spring. The pioneering scheme will support students from across the UK and from all backgrounds to take advantage of the benefits of studying and working abroad from September 2021.
This updated strategy outlines plans for a new international teaching qualification (iQTS) so teachers around the globe can train to world-leading domestic standards and support growing international demand for high quality teaching, and also highlights recent changes including streamlining application processes and boosting job prospects for international students.
According to the UK Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan, in these unprecedented times, having a proactive global education agenda is more important than ever.
“We are committed to making sure our students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can benefit from studying and working abroad. Working with the British Council, we will open up the globe to our young people, and I look forward to seeing the exciting and enriching opportunities the Turing scheme will bring.
Also, the UK’s Minister for Exports, Graham Stuart explained that the UK offers a world-class education.
“I’m proud to lead the Department for International Trade’s education work, as our International Education Strategy aims to help the sector recover from the impacts of the pandemic. It’s vital we help the UK’s world-renowned education industry to build back better by exporting our brilliant goods, services, skills and innovation across the globe.”
He said schools, colleges and universities can now access details on the Turing Scheme including funding rates and eligibility criteria to help them to prepare applications for the new scheme ahead of the applications window opening in the next few weeks.
UK education providers can take advantage of schemes such as UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) General Export Facility, an export guarantee scheme that can be used by firms to help cover the everyday costs linked to exporting.
The International Education Strategy is supported by the Government’s ‘Education is GREAT’ trade promotion campaign, which represents the UK’s offer of education provision to prospective international students or trade partners in other countries.