Higher Education: Creative Courses
Debate between Baroness Smith of Malvern and Baroness Smith of Llanfaes(6 days, 5 hours ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
As the noble Lord identified, support is continuing for those very important organisations to provide access for the most able musicians to the sort of development that is important to them. The Government have had to take some very difficult fiscal decisions, given the legacy we inherited from the previous Government; notwithstanding that, we are committed to developing creative subjects and, for example, launching a new national music education network to help families, children and schools access broader opportunities and support in that area.
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)
My Lords, 290 jobs are set to be cut from Bangor University and the University of South Wales, and 400 jobs are proposed to be cut at Cardiff University, including by closing its music courses. What formal role will the Welsh Government play in the HE review that is to be conducted by the Minister? What consideration has she made of how to include the voices of students and those working at universities in that review?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
As the noble Baroness suggests, this is a responsibility for the Welsh Government, but I was able to talk to Members of Parliament representing Cardiff constituencies and to the Welsh Minister who has responsibility for higher education. In those conversations, we talked about the need for a long-term sustainable funding system for our higher education. Although that is a responsibility for the Government as it relates to England, I am also committed to ensuring that we keep those forms of communication open and are able to work together with our colleagues in Wales in order to put our higher education institutions back on to a much sounder financial footing, and ensure that universities are making long-term strategic decisions—autonomously and independently, rightly—supported by longer-term stability in their finances.
Erasmus+
Debate between Baroness Smith of Malvern and Baroness Smith of Llanfaes(5 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
As the noble Baroness identified, as did the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, there was a considerable asymmetry in the Erasmus+ scheme. Of course, I accept that there is considerable benefit from welcoming students, teachers and others from overseas into the UK. That is why the Government have given a much warmer welcome to international students into our higher education institutions than was the case with the previous Government. Erasmus is not the only way in which we can help support language learning. That is why, as I outlined to the noble Lord, the English language assistants programme, which is delivered by the DfE and the British Council, makes an important contribution to enabling paid teaching placements overseas for UK residents to improve their language skills, as well as placements in the UK for non-UK residents to assist with teaching, for example, French, Spanish, Mandarin, German and Italian. All of those—I accept the noble Baroness’s point—are important in our schools and further education institutions.
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)
My Lords, next year, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement is due for review. It is essential that we consult and acknowledge the views of young people about their aspirations for our international relationships. Will the Government explore the needs and aspirations of young people and future generations ahead of the trade and co-operation review?