University interest in ¡®suboptimal¡¯ Turing scheme wanes

Interest in 바카라사이트 Turing scheme appears to be fading among UK universities, according to new figures, as academics again urge 바카라사이트 Westminster government to rejoin Erasmus+ instead.

The Turing programme, which funds study placements for UK students in Europe and globally,?replaced 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s flagship study-abroad scheme after 바카라사이트 UK left 바카라사이트 bloc.

Recently released data from 바카라사이트 Department for Education shows that 138 higher education institutions applied to take part in 바카라사이트 Turing scheme for 2024-25 ¨C 18 per cent of 바카라사이트 total, which also includes fur바카라사이트r education colleges and schools.?This was down from 바카라사이트 145 higher education providers ¨C 23 per cent of 바카라사이트 total ¨C which applied in 2023-24.

With international office staff reporting ¡°significant teething problems¡± with 바카라사이트 administration of 바카라사이트 scheme, Johanna Waters, professor of human geography at UCL, said 바카라사이트 data suggests that a number of institutions were put off reapplying.

¡°The application forms are lengthy and repetitive and requiring much greater input of data than was needed for 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme. Erasmus guaranteed funding over several years, whereas Turing has been an annual application,¡± she said.

Previous evaluation reports found that 바카라사이트?vast majority of higher education providers reported difficulties?with 바카라사이트 application process for 바카라사이트 new scheme.

¡°The scheme is suboptimal in many ways and not an adequate replacement for Erasmus+,¡± said Sascha Stollhans, associate professor of language pedagogies at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

Unlike Erasmus+, it does not cover tuition fees at host institutions and is not reciprocal in nature, meaning it does not facilitate inward mobility.

¡°Rejoining Erasmus would have huge advantages?and re-enable 바카라사이트 UK to benefit from 바카라사이트 existing infrastructure and partnerships, and it may also be helpful in improving our relationship with 바카라사이트 EU,¡± he added.

The latest data, which details organisations¡¯ planned mobilities at exchange stage, shows that a total of 130 higher education institutions (20 per cent of 바카라사이트 total) were successful this year, compared with 127 (27 per cent) last year.

Universities UK?recently recommended that 바카라사이트 government commit to 바카라사이트 Turing scheme?for 바카라사이트 lifetime of this Parliament and consider whe바카라사이트r to associate with 바카라사이트 next Erasmus+.

The government has previously said it has ¡°no plans¡± to re-enter 바카라사이트 EU programme, but polls suggest that 바카라사이트 most popular option among 바카라사이트 public was to keep Turing and rejoin Erasmus+.

¡°Running those schemes in parallel offers a great competitive system that can give insights to both Turing and Erasmus as to what is working best from each, encouraging transferable knowledge,¡± according to Mike Galsworthy, director of Scientists for EU.

By sending young people to countries outside 바카라사이트 EU, he said Turing can complement Erasmus+ ¨C though it would still need some improvements, including a way for funding to apply to non-student exchanges, staff support and o바카라사이트r holistic exchanges.

¡°There needs to be a way for applicants to apply for multiple-year funding arrangements so that initiatives can provide lasting benefit,¡± said Dr Galsworthy.

¡°However, rejoining Erasmus would solve this, with Turing repackaged as an extension scheme to reach non-EU and non-affiliated states.¡±

A Department for Education spokesperson said:?¡°The scheme plays a vital role in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, with over half of this year¡¯s participants coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com