Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with universities on the effect of higher education funding arrangements on the sustainability of STEM courses in (a) Portsmouth and (b) the UK.
Part of the teaching grant funding that the government provides to eligible higher education providers, via the Office for Students, is allocated to support the provision of high-cost subjects, including most science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
As part of the government’s Post-18 Education and Funding Review, the department will be considering recommendations made by the independent panel carefully. The government has not yet made a decision regarding the recommendations put forward. The department will continue to engage with stakeholders as it considers the recommendations.
Discussions with stakeholders are likely to include higher education funding and provision of high-priority courses, such as STEM.