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26 Jan 2009 : Column 259W—continued
As HESA data are limited to those studying at HEIs, the latest figures from Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for entrants to foundation degrees by subject of study have been provided as these cover both English HEIs and English further education institutions (FECs). Figures for entrants have been provided as an alternative as figures for qualifiers are not available.
The academic subject classification (JACS) is not always well suited to describing foundation degrees. The new HESA record being collected for 2007-08 will facilitate the identification of courses and it is hoped that future reports will be able to describe foundation degree provision in ways that will be more recognisable to stakeholders.
Graduates: Employment
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he has had with higher education institutions on levels of graduate employment in the current economic situation; and what representations he has received on proposals for (a) reskilling and (b) upskilling courses for graduates preparing for employment. [250712]
Mr. Lammy: DIUS Ministers have met groups of university vice-chancellors, representatives of university careers services and graduate employers to discuss the prospects for graduate employment and the contribution of universities to helping individuals and businesses in the economic downturn. Universities’ contributions to skills, training and workforce development are exemplified in the leaflet “Standing together—universities helping business through the downturn” available at:
In addition, the Secretary of State announced plans to increase the availability of internship places as a contribution to improving the skills of graduates preparing for employment.
Graduates: Government Assistance
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the Prime Minister’s plans to introduce a Government-
funded intern scheme for university graduates, whether the scheme will be restricted to or targeted at particular socio-economic or demographic groups of recent graduates. [250466]
Mr. Lammy: As part of its overall package to support individuals through the economic downturn, the Government are developing proposals to increase the number of internships places for graduates who are unemployed next summer. We expect to offer graduates the opportunity to spend three months with an employer in either the private, public or third sector to apply their learning in the workplace and build the work-ready skills they will need for permanent employment. It is still early days and the details will be carefully worked out in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders.
Higher Education
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information his Department holds on the work of British higher education institutions in promoting transnational educational partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [247755]
Mr. Lammy: Transnational education—the delivery of the courses and qualifications of one country in another one—brings great benefit to the individual higher education institutions (HEIs) involved as well as to the country as a whole. It makes a major contribution to the high reputation enjoyed by UK higher education in other parts of the world. The overall value of transnational higher education to the UK is estimated to be some £200 million per annum. A recent study commissioned by the Department and published by Sheffield Hallam University in May 2008 found that our institutions are well-engaged in making their high quality programmes and expertise available in other countries. The report, entitled “Transnational education and higher education institutions: exploring patterns of HE institutional activity”, is available on the research and analysis pages of the Department’s website. As part of the second phase of the Prime Minister’s Initiative for international education (PMI2), £4 million has been allocated in 2007-08 to supporting HEIs in developing international partnerships and expanding their successful transnational education strategies to further improve the visibility of UK higher education on the international stage. Some 189 projects are being supported which involve UK HE institutions collaborating with institutions overseas.
Higher Education Funding Council: Consultants
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much and what proportion of the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s budget was spent on the employment of management consultants in the last financial year. [249109]
Mr. Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council for England spent £145,000 in 2007-08 on management consultancy activities. This represents 0.002 per cent. of its budget for that year.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he expects to meet the target of 50 per cent. participation rate in university education for young people aged 18 to 30 years. [248911]
Mr. Lammy: Over half of young people from all social backgrounds aspire to go to university. We are helping them to fulfil that aspiration. The latest UCAS figures show that acceptances from England are up by 7.4 per cent. (22,764) on the same point last year and this year’s figures are the highest ever. Increasing initial participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30 is challenging but is an essential investment in our future prosperity. The high level skills acquired through university education help individuals and businesses to innovate and thrive. Our interim target is 42 per cent. for 2010/11 and we achieved 40 per cent. in 2006/07.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what information his Department holds on which universities and higher education institutions have received over £50,000 from (a) a donor and (b) a foundation that had investments in the Madoff scheme; [250546]
(2) what information his Department holds on which universities and higher education institutions that had investments in the (a) Fairfield Greenwich, (b) Tremont Capital, (c) Union Bancaire Privée, (d) Access International, (e) Santander, (f) Gabriel Capital, (g) Fortis, (h) Kingsgate, (i) Normura, (j) Bank Medici, (k) Picower, (l) Union Bancaire, (m) Aozora, (n) Maxam, (o) Dexia, (p) HSBC, (q) Pioneer AL, (r) MB, (s) BNP, (t) Reliance, (u) BBVA, (v) Nativis, (w) Reichmuth, (x) credit mutual, (y) EIM and (z) Yeshim University hedge funds in 2008; [250547]
(3) what information his Department holds on which universities and higher education institutions had investments in the (a) MAN, (b) Unicredit, (c) Hadassah, (d) UBI, (e) Great Eastern and (f) fixed hedge funds in December 2008; [250548]
(4) what information his Department holds on which universities and higher education institutions invested in (a) Bernard Madoff investment securities and (b) hedge funds that invested in the Madoff scheme; and how much money was lost in each case. [250549]
Mr. Lammy: Higher education institutions are responsible for their own banking and investment decisions and we have no data on the individual decisions they have taken. But the total level of annual income from all such investments is about 2 per cent. of the total income institutions now generate each year. The Higher Education Funding Council for England will keep the situation under review but has concluded that no institution is at risk as a result of any investment decisions it has taken. There is therefore no reason for students, prospective students, businesses or charities to reconsider their dealings with universities and other higher education institutions.
National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what relevant specialist qualifications the head of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research holds; where the post was advertised; how many persons applied for the post; how many were short-listed for interview; and if he will make a statement. [245073]
Mr. Lammy: The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) was established in 2004. It built upon and replaced the work of the Medical Research Council's (MRC) Centre for Best Practice for Animals in Research. Dr. Vicky Robinson, the chief executive of the NC3Rs was appointed by the MRC as head of the MRC Centre in 2002 following a competitive appointment process. The position was advertised in the New Scientist and called for relevant postdoctoral research, medical or veterinary qualifications as well as previous research/clinical experience. Dr. Robinson holds an honours degree in Biology and a PhD in Development Biology, and prior to her appointment was a research scientist with considerable experience of the 3Rs, including having worked for the RSPCA Research Animals Department for three years.
Overseas Students: Finance
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of non-UK EU domiciled students who graduated from an English university in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007 have started repaying their student loan. [249096]
Mr. Lammy: Non-UK EU students commencing courses in 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 are eligible for a tuition fee grant, but not eligible for a student loan. Those commencing courses in 2006/07, who are the first students to be eligible for a loan, would not be expected to graduate until summer 2009 at the earliest, so figures are therefore unavailable at present.
Research: Standards
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department proposes that multi-disciplinary research should be assessed in the Research Excellence Framework using the same procedures as mono-disciplinary research. [249240]
Mr. Lammy: The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is being developed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in consultation with the higher education sector.
No decisions have been made on methods of assessing multi- and mono-disciplinary research within the REF. HEFCE will announce any such decisions in due course.
Student Numbers: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what records he holds of the number of Newcastle-based further education students who are at university in the city. [244128]
Mr. Lammy: It is not possible to answer the question precisely in the way it has been asked on the basis of the data which are collected centrally. However, there are now 48,470 higher education students at providers of higher education in Newcastle which represents an increase of 12,845 compared with 1997. Our policies are designed to help local students progress from further to higher education in order to increase and widen participation.
Students: Admissions
Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of UK students admitted to universities in England left university before completing their course in each of the last five years. [251029]
Mr. Lammy: The latest available figures for the percentage of full-time first degree entrants not continuing in higher education after their first year are shown in table 1. These figures are also referred to as non-continuation rates. Comparable figures for the 2006/07 academic year will be available in June 2009.
| Table 1: Percentage of full-time first degree entrants not continuing in HE after their first year, English higher education institutions, academic year 2001/02 to 2005/06 | |
| Academic year | Percentage |
| Source: Performance Indicators in HE, published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | |
The latest available figures for the percentage of full-time first degree starts expected to neither obtain an award nor transfer are shown in table 2. These figures are also known as non-completion rates. Comparable figures for the 2006/07 academic year will be available in June 2009.
| Table 2: Percentage of full-time first degree starters expected to neither obtain an award nor transfer to another institution, English higher education institutions, academic year 2001/02 to 2005/06 | |
| Academic year | Percentage |
| Source: Performance Indicators in HE, published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | |
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