Erasmus Programme
Debate between Baroness Smith of Malvern and Lord Berkeley of Knighton(1 month, 1 week ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
I am pleased that we are able to continue the Turing scheme for the coming year, with £105 million allocated this year. I will come back to the noble Baroness on the allocation for next year. My wish is that we make even further progress than has been the case this year on ensuring that those who can benefit from it are participants from disadvantaged backgrounds, who would not otherwise have that opportunity.
Lord Berkeley of Knighton (CB)
My Lords, I certainly welcome the Turing scheme, but it is not the same thing as Erasmus. The important thing about Erasmus is that it is not just about education; as we have heard, it is about the wider cultural exchange of ideas. With respect, I do not think that the Minister answered my noble friend Lord Clancarty’s question about reciprocity. We do not accept people from abroad. Is that not surely the whole nature of an exchange of ideas?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
I talked about the considerable benefits that come to our country and our higher education system from the ability of international students to come to study in the UK. We are also committed as a department to ensuring school visits and other opportunities for exchange. We can, where possible, eradicate some of the challenges that have arisen in relation to children going to experience visits in the rest of Europe and to students being able to come to the UK. Of course, we recognise the benefit that comes from language assistants, for example, being able to come to the UK. I do not think it is true that I have not recognised that, but that is different from committing to a specific programme at this point in the UK’s reset with the EU.
Curriculum and Assessment Review
Debate between Baroness Smith of Malvern and Lord Berkeley of Knighton(3 months, 1 week ago)
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Lord Berkeley of Knighton (CB)
My Lords, in addition to the subjects being considered, will the review look at the provision of the infrastructure behind them—for example, libraries for books and, for music, peripatetic teachers, instruments and music itself?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
Notwithstanding the very difficult financial situation that this Government inherited, we are committed—