Thousands of young people across the UK will be able to go on
international study and work placements next year, as schools,
colleges and universities are encouraged to apply to the
government’s world-wide scheme.
Applications for the third year of the flagship government
programme, the Turing Scheme, are open with placements available
across the globe starting from September 2023.
This year over 38,000 young people had a chance to develop new
skills and gain international experience in over 160 destinations
across continents, from Australia to Zimbabwe.
More than half of these placements are for young people from
disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, helping to drive
social mobility in parts of the UK where historically there have
been fewer opportunities to work and study abroad.
Widening access to international opportunities in education and
training is an essential component of the Turing Scheme with
33,000 participants from England, over 3,300 participants from
Scotland, over 1,000 participants from Wales and over 860 from
Northern Ireland.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education said:
I am thrilled to offer schools, colleges and universities the
chance to take part in the third year of this fantastic scheme,
helping extend the ladder of opportunity and giving more young
people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the
chance to experience other cultures and learn vital skills for
life and work.
Young people taking part will benefit from studying and working
abroad, building the confidence they need for the world of work,
whilst increasing growth opportunities for Global Britain.
The scheme is open to young people at school, college, or
university. A group of year 10 pupils from a school in Blackburn
were offered the valuable opportunity to spend two weeks in
Eswatini or Morocco in May 2022. Pupils from the Hyndburn Academy
spent time in lessons with their counterparts as well as
undertaking work in the local community, working with the charity
All Out Africa to install drainage pipework at a care centre for
local pre-school children.
Teacher Rebecca Barker-Rourke said of the experience:
The experience has developed confidence in many of the students
and will give them loads of rich examples to discuss in future
applications for college, university, apprenticeships and
employment.
We are in an area that is economically deprived, and the Turing
Scheme funding means we can offer this opportunity to students
that would otherwise never get the chance for a trip like
this.”
Applications are open for schools, colleges and universities to
apply for the third year of the Turing Scheme for global
placements commencing from September 2023. Placements are funded
from September 1 to August 31 each year and the scheme is managed
by Capita plc on behalf of the Department for Education, with the
assessment of applications provided by an independent panel of
sector experts.
Cindy Rampersaud, managing director, Capita Education and
Learning, said:
We are incredibly proud to support the DfE in delivering the
Turing Scheme.
The funding offers fantastic opportunities for thousands of
learners - including some of the UK’s most disadvantaged students
- to travel, expand their horizons, and reach their full
potential.
Information about funding opportunities, eligibility criteria and
a range of guidance and support materials for prospective
applicants can be found on the Turing Scheme website.
