| |
Home
News Centre
Popular
Questions
Publications
FoI
Publications Scheme
Research
Consultations
Our
Strategy
Speeches
Statistics
Inside
the Department
Cymraeg/Welsh
Links
Contact Us
Help
User guide
|
|
CHARLES CLARKE SEEKS PROTECTION FOR COURSES OF NATIONAL STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE
01 December 2004Education and Skills Secretary, Charles Clarke has today written to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) seeking advice on how to protect higher education courses of national strategic importance. Following careful consideration and consultation with Cabinet colleagues, Charles Clarke has submitted a list of courses which should be considered of national strategic importance. He has asked HEFCE to report back on whether intervention is necessary to protect any of these subjects and if so, offer advice on what intervention might be right, and the types of intervention which it believes could be considered. The Secretary of State has asked HEFCE to consider the following as courses of national strategic importance:• Arabic and Turkish language studies and other Middle Eastern area studies, former Soviet Union Caucasus and central Asian area studies – this is mainly for strategic security and inter-cultural awareness reasons, as highlighted by the recent British Society for Middle East Studies Report;
• Japanese, Chinese Mandarin and other far eastern languages/dialects and area studies – for business and trade purposes, as highlighted by, among others, the UK-Japan 21st Century Group;
• Science, technology, engineering and mathematics – chiefly for maintaining the UK’s excellent science base and ensuring our national productivity;
• Vocationally oriented courses of particular interest to employers in industries that are of growing importance to the UK economy; for example, the cultural and creative industries, and e-skills; and
• Courses relating to recent EU accession countries, especially those in Eastern Europe and the Baltic.
Charles Clarke said:
“Any sensible Government needs to take a long term view of what our students are studying and whether we have enough graduates in the subjects needed to help our economy and society thrive. “That is why I consulted with Cabinet colleagues over the courses they felt needed extra protection. We have now agreed a list of key subjects of national strategic importance. The list includes minority languages, science, technology, engineering, maths and vocationally-oriented courses of particular interest to employers in areas of growing importance to the UK economy. I have asked HEFCE to report back to me on whether we are doing enough to protect them all, and what intervention might be right for those courses that need protection.“Specification of these particular subjects does not mean that they are more important than others. But, they have been pinpointed because there are particular concerns that on current trends we may not be able to produce enough graduates in these fields in the future and have them provided for in enough regions across the country.”The letter also covered other areas of strategic importance. Charles Clarke added:“With the passage of the Higher Education Bill, it is timely for us to reconsider the strategic issues around higher education. That is why I have also asked HEFCE for advice on how we can encourage more research collaboration, how Institutions can get more involved in regional skills strategies, alternatives to the traditional three years honours degree model, and moving towards a national credit framework. “Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies. We cannot force them to keep courses open, or to offer courses of a particular length or type. However, as a strategic body, HEFCE is perfectly placed to give me advice on what encouragement and incentives we can introduce to meet our key objectives. I am not looking for a new set of policy initiatives nor a bid for extra funds. We have just passed a very wide ranging Bill which set the tone for the next decade and have provided for a generous funding settlement which will put the sector on a more sound financial footing. This is about working with the resources we already have.”
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. Charles Clarke wrote his letter to David Young, Chairman of HEFCE on 1 December 2004. This letter is about issues of strategic interest and is not about funding. The HEFCE Grant letter which covers funding issues will be issued later in the year. 2. Timetable of events:
Spring 2004 - Discussion with HEFCE began.22 July 2004 – Consultation with Cabinet Colleagues.15 September 2004 – Charles Clarke speech to UUK emphasised need to work with sector on strategic subjects.Since September – ongoing official discussions with Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics and others.
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2004/0209
|
|
|
|
