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938571

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	ICT and STEM Subjects: Higher Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of pupils taking up STEM and ICT higher education courses in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	163058
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2018 answer text <p>The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service publishes data on the number of applicants accepted to full-time undergraduate courses at UK higher education providers by subject group.</p><p>The number of UK domiciled 18 and 19 year olds accepted to full-time undergraduate courses in each science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subject group is shown in the attached Table 1. It shows that total acceptances to STEM subjects for UK 18 and 19 year olds had increased by 24% between 2012 and 2017. This compares to an increase of 14% for all subjects over the same period.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 20/07/2018 13:51:35 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah attachment 1 file name 163058_UK_domiciled_18_and_19_year_old_acceptances_by_STEM_subject.pdf title 18_and_19_year_old_acceptances_by_STEM_subject
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

833186

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions the Government has had with UK universities on the negotiations for the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Brentwood and Ongar
	tabling member printed	Alex Burghart
	uin	903685
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2018 answer text <p>We regularly engage with a wide range of higher education (HE) stakeholders – including universities and representative bodies such as Universities UK – at both ministerial and official levels to ensure we fully understand the sector’s priorities for EU exit. This engagement includes the High Level Stakeholder Working Group on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation, which I chair as Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. This group brings together voices from across the HE and research sector, and is also attended by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union. We value this close engagement and we want to maintain a dialogue with the sector as discussions on the UK’s future relationship with the EU progress.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 903681 question first answered 01/02/2018 16:20:49 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart

982652

	registered interest
	date	08/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Plagiarism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to crack down on the use of essay mill cheating services amongst students.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	176451
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2018 answer text <p>Cheating is unacceptable. It undermines the reputation of the sector, and devalues the hard work of those succeeding on their own merit. We are currently focussing on non-legislative options, but remain open to the future need for legislation, and will continue to investigate all options available. We should only legislate where it is absolutely necessary – the government’s preferred approach is to tackle this issue through a sector-led initiative – which is why the department has worked with Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), Universities UK and the National Union of Students to publish guidance last October, for all UK Universities on how best to tackle contract cheating.</p><p> </p><p>Time is needed to fully evaluate the effectiveness of the new guidance and this is underway. The QAA is running a series of seminars to evaluate how the sector is using the guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Higher Education and Research Act (2017), we have given the Office for Students the power to take action if higher education providers are found to be, in any way, complicit in cheating. This includes imposing fines or ultimately de-registration, the highest possible punishment. I expect Vice Chancellors to play their part by adopting robust anti plagiarism and cheating policies which exclude students who use essay mills and by tackling the advertising of these services in their institutions.</p><p> </p><p>I welcome the swift action YouTube took to remove videos containing adverts promoting the EduBirdie essay-writing service, in response to the recent 'BBC Trending' investigation on academic cheating, in which I made it very clear that YouTube had a moral responsibility to take action.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 16/10/2018 12:20:01 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

832978

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to encourage universities in the Russell Group to recognise vocational qualifications as part of their admissions process; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	125294
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2018 answer text <p>Higher education institutions (HEIs) are independent, autonomous bodies and as such, they are responsible for their own admissions decisions. HEIs are best placed to decide on the information that will help to identify the candidates with the talent and potential to succeed at that institution or on a particular course, including vocational qualifications.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017, 3.5% of UK 18-year-old students were accepted into full-time undergraduate higher education with BTEC qualifications only, including to the most selective institutions – a 1.1% points increase since 2012. In developing new T-levels, technical study programmes that will be akin to A-levels, we have been clear that they must support progression to higher education options, including technical degrees.</p><p> </p><p>This government is committed to widening participation to higher education for students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups.</p><p> </p><p>Following the introduction of the Higher Education and Research Act, from January 2018, the Office for Students (OfS), with a new Director for Fair Access and Participation appointed by the Secretary of State, will take on responsibility for widening participation in higher education. The OfS will have a statutory duty to promote equality of opportunity across the whole lifecycle for disadvantaged students, not just access. As a result, widening access and participation will be at the core of the OfS’ functions.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, our reforms will introduce a Transparency Duty requiring higher education providers to publish application, offer, acceptance, dropout and attainment rates of students broken down by ethnicity, gender and socio-economic background. This will highlight those higher education institutions that need to go further and faster to widen participation in higher education.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 01/02/2018 16:18:18 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

837985

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department provides to universities on the provision of mental health services.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	127015
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2018 answer text <p>The department is working closely with Universities UK (UUK) on the ongoing programme of work on mental health in higher education. UUK has worked in partnership with the Institute for Public Policy Research to strengthen the evidence base on mental health in higher education and launched their Step Change programme on 4 September 2017. The Step Change framework offers detailed guidance to higher education institutions (HEIs), including a strategy checklist for university leaders</p><p>(<a href="http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/stepchange/Pages/checklist.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/stepchange/Pages/checklist.aspx</a>).</p><p> </p><p>The Children and Young People’s Mental Health green paper, open for consultation until 2 March 2018, outlines government’s plans to set up a new national strategic partnership focused on improving the mental health of 16-25 year olds – encouraging more coordinated action, experimentation and robust evaluation of mental health services.</p><p> </p><p>As autonomous and independent organisations, it is for HEIs to determine what welfare and counselling services they need to provide to their students. Each institution will be best placed to identify the needs of their particular student body, including taking actions in line with any legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 14/02/2018 17:47:24 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

845507

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Counselling
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to on-campus counselling for students at Universities in England.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	128479
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2018 answer text <p>The department is working closely with Universities UK (UUK) on the ongoing programme of work on Mental Health in Higher Education. UUK has worked in partnership with the Institute for Public Policy Research to strengthen the evidence-base on mental health in higher education and launched their Step Change programme on 4 September 2017. The Step Change framework offers detailed guidance to Higher Education Institutions, including a strategy checklist for university leaders</p><p>(<a href="http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/stepchange/Pages/checklist.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/stepchange/Pages/checklist.aspx</a>).</p><p> </p><p>The Children and Young People’s Mental Health green paper, open for consultation until 2 March, outlines government’s plans to set up a new national strategic partnership focused on improving the mental health of 16-25 year olds, encouraging more coordinated action, experimentation and robust evaluation of mental health services. The green paper also includes a proposal to encourage local coalitions between tertiary education providers, local authorities, and health and care commissioners and providers.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Higher Education Funding Council for England Catalyst Fund commits up to £30 million funding per year for collaborative projects that drive innovation in the higher education sector, enhance excellence and efficiency in higher education and support innovative solutions. For example, a project led by the University of the West of England with UUK, Cardiff University, York University and Student Minds will raise the importance of mental wellbeing in the sector.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 23/02/2018 14:06:00 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

845508

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will bring forward proposals to encourage universities and other higher education providers to improve access to mental health services for students.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	128480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2018 answer text <p>In higher education, there is already much work underway to improve the quality of mental health services for students, alongside services provided by the NHS, including through the NHS programme Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.</p><p> </p><p>The recent green paper on children and young people’s mental health outlines plans to set up a new national strategic partnership focused on improving the mental health of 16-25 year olds. This includes a proposal to encourage local coalitions between tertiary education providers, local authorities, and health and care commissioners and providers.</p><p> </p><p>The new partnership is also likely to look to support and build on sector-led initiatives in higher education such as University UK’s Step Change project. This calls on higher education leaders to adopt mental health as a strategic priority and adopt a whole-university approach to mental health, embedding it across all policies, cultures, curricula and practice.</p><p> </p><p>As autonomous and independent organisations, higher education institutions (HEIs) determine what welfare and counselling services they need to provide to their students. Each institution will be best placed to identify the needs of their particular student body, including taking actions in line with any legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.</p><p> </p><p>A number of HEIs currently make use of outsourced or external service provision such as 24/7 counselling or support service; online self-help services; a crisis line for signposting to out-of-hours support.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 23/02/2018 14:04:00 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

845740

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of proposals by some universities to adopt a GPA based grading system.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	128712
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2018 answer text <p>On 19 October 2017, on behalf of the Office for Students (OfS), the Department for Education consulted on a new Regulatory Framework for Higher Education in England. Part of that consultation sought views on whether there would be merit in the OfS exploring alternative methods of assessment, including Grade Point Average (GPA). The OfS will shortly publish its consultation response, together with a new Regulatory Framework for Higher Education in England.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 28/02/2018 16:11:37 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

845742

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Office for Students
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department held meetings with or otherwise engaged representative groups from the (a) Muslim, (b) Jewish, (c) Hindu, (d) Sikh and (e) Christian communities as part of the consultation process on the remit of the Office for Students.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	128714
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2018 answer text <p>The department launched seven consultations on aspects of the remit of the Office for Students. These consultations were open to all individuals, representative groups and organisations for response.</p><p> </p><p>A full list of all respondents will be included in the responses to these consultations, which will be published shortly.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 128718 question first answered 26/02/2018 16:32:18 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

845746

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Office for Students
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department held meetings or otherwise engaged with (a) LGBTQ+ community, (b) disability rights, (c) sex and gender equality and (d) anti-racist representatives or organisations as part of the consultation process on the remit of the Office for Students.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	128718
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2018 answer text <p>The department launched seven consultations on aspects of the remit of the Office for Students. These consultations were open to all individuals, representative groups and organisations for response.</p><p> </p><p>A full list of all respondents will be included in the responses to these consultations, which will be published shortly.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah grouped question UIN 128714 question first answered 26/02/2018 16:32:24 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel