Turing Scheme offers opportunities to thousands of students for foreign mobility
The department of Education announced that more than 40,000 students could be offered places under the new Turing scheme which replaces the Erasmus programme.
Over 120 universities, schools and further education colleges across the UK that placed their bids for funding will know if they were successful in the next few days. The approved proposals will get a share of £110 million allocated to the scheme towards delivering overseas placements. The participants will receive financial help to cover the general costs in various amounts depending on the sector and destination country.
The scheme covers over 150 destinations globally where the UK students can take their study or work placements and include European countries as well as further away countries such as Japan, Canada or the USA.
The placements can last from few days to 12 months and especially the short and intensive programmes will open up opportunities for students from disciplines where traditional, longer placements are not possible and to those from disadvantaged groups.
According to the government, 48% of applicants are expected to be from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve mobility across the UK and target the areas that have seen lower participation in the Erasmus programme.
Under the Turing scheme, disadvantaged students will be eligible for additional funding to cover extra expenses such as visas and passports.
Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary said about the scheme: “The chance to work and learn in a country far from home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – which broadens minds, sharpens skills and improves outcomes.”
Vivienne Stern, the Director of Universities UK International, agreed that the Turing Scheme would create opportunities for thousands of students from all over the country to gain experience working and studying abroad. The research by UUK International confirmed that the students who experienced some kind of mobility tend to do better academically and benefit from it in their employment future.
