Policy paper

Education Sector Advisory Group minutes 26 April 2022

Updated 11 January 2024

Time, date and venue: 11:45am to 12:45pm, 26 April 2022 (online)

Chair: Minister Burghart, Minister of Skills, Department for Education (DfE)

Attendees

• Maddalaine Ansell - Director Education, British Council
• Caroline Wright - Chief Executive, British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA)
• Colin Bell - Chief Executive, Council of British International Schools (COBIS)
• Jodie Gray - Interim Chair, English UK
• Alex Proudfoot - Chief Executive, Independent Higher Education (HE)
• Lesley Davies - Chair, UK Skills Partnership
• Vivienne Stern - Director, Universities UK International (UUKi)
• Sir Steve Smith - International Education Champion
• Wendy Alexander - Scotland (Vice-Principal International at the University of Dundee and Scottish Trade Envoy)

Apologies

• Minister Freer - Minister of Trade, Department for International Trade (DIT)
• Iwan Davies – Wales (Vice Chancellor of Bangor University and Chair of Global Wales)
• Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland
• Neil Leitch, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance

1. Welcome and introductions

Minister Burghart welcomed everyone to his first Education Sector Advisory Group (ESAG) as chair and gave a brief update that:

• the second year of the Turing Scheme has launched and applications close on 29 April 2022, all are encouraged to apply

• Warm Welcome Scholarship scheme expressions of interest are open to support those who have links to Afghanistan; to help rebuild lives, find work, pursue education, and integrate with their local communities

• support for Ukraine is a huge government effort and a top priority - the Office for Students (OfS) will deliver up to £4 million additional hardship support for students from Ukraine

• the Education World Forum (EWF) in May is an opportunity to showcase UK education and ministers look forward to engaging with overseas counterparts on improving education, employability and positive work outcomes across nations

2. International Education Strategy (IES) next steps; education export risks and opportunities; and international education champion update

We are making good progress on the IES ambitions. Latest data confirms the 600,000 ambition was met for the first time in the 2020 to 2021 academic year. There were 605,130 international students studying in the UK and on education exports and £25.2 billion was generated for the UK economy in 2019.

A discussion on education export risks covered the:

• diversification of international recruitment
• importance of a coherent UK offer and brand building
• impact of EU exit on the English language sector
• importance of balancing export considerations with domestic policy developments

There are opportunities around technical and level 3 qualifications, building skills, support for International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) and for recognition of other accreditation schemes.

Action 1: ESAG members to share further information with officials for consideration on:

• new HE providers and visa sponsorship

• the current immigration system for level 3 and 4 qualifications

Sir Steve confirmed his engagement continues with 457 meetings to date of which 121 were international. Planned trips over the coming months include Saudi Arabia 7 to 11 May, Nigeria 15 to 20 May and India 6 to 9 June. Sir Steve will also engage in Education World Forum, 22 to 25 May, and the Commonwealth Games on 29 July. He noted the importance of reducing market access barriers and acknowledged that removing barriers, such as qualification recognition, can take time. He stressed that he was keen to represent the whole of the UK education export sector in his overseas engagements.

ESAG members made suggestions for longer term activities for Sir Steve. This included the benefits of an all-sector approach to missions/visits and promoting the UK as a study destination, including articulation of how education benefits employment outcomes.

The group also discussed:

• support across the sector for Ukraine involving twinning between UK and Ukraine universities
• English language beyond ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages)
• sector collaboration to tackle isolation
• British schools
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
• EdTech (Educational Technology)

3. Opportunities for Nigeria

As one of Sir Steve’s priority countries, Nigeria has education export opportunities, but regional market access barriers exist. Sir Steve is leading the mission in May to focus on scoping barriers and laying the foundations for TNE for a further visit later in the year. Helen Grant, MP, is joining the mission in her capacity as the PM’s Special Envoy on Girls’ Education. Scott McDonald, British Council CEO, is also joining part of the mission.

British Council noted that supporting preparations for Sir Steve Smith’s mission has been a priority and outlined export and development opportunities in Nigeria. Nigeria’s young and growing population is creating significant demand for international education, research partnerships, teacher development and English language. Research reports and opportunities for long-term sustainable partnerships have been commissioned.

ESAG members discussed opportunities for the visit and future engagement in Nigeria, noting that independent schools are a good pathway for Nigerian students into HE. Providers have previously encountered some practical issues with partnerships and emphasised the need to work collectively on this longer term.

4. Any other business

The HE sector reported issues encountered by some providers with the new Turing application system. DfE agreed to investigate further.

Action 2: UUKi to send details to DfE officials of specific issues reported by the sector on the Turing application system.

Date of next meeting

12 July 2022 at 12pm to 13:30pm