§ 48. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards granting the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield university status and enabling it to award its own degrees to students; what departments, facilities and activities will become part of the university; what activities on the Cranfield site will be 100W excluded from it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CroslandIt has been decided that this college should be brought within the ambit of a university grants system. The recommendations of the Governing Body on the future of this college were received last week and I am requesting the University Grants Committee to advise me upon them in the light of the overall pattern of higher education development. The links of the college with industry and the rate of potential increase in its student intake are relevant to the decision which I shall have to take in due course, but I am not yet ready to make a comprehensive statement.
§ 49. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards setting up a chair of Industrial Management at the Cranfield College of Aeronautics; and to what extent the Work Study School will be associated with this Chair.
§ Mr. CroslandThis development has been approved and I understand that the College hopes to interview applicants towards the end of this month. The duties of the post will include special responsibility for the supervision and direction of the activities of the Work Study School.
§ 50. Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students and post graduate students are at present at the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield; how many students will be there next year: how many experienced managers and supervisors with or without university degrees will attend short courses at the Work Study and other schools; and what is the duration of these courses.
§ Mr. CroslandIn the last week of the session which has just ended there were 380 students, of whom 344 were post-graduate or post-experience students. 268 were following one or two year diploma courses; 4 were on the Guided Missile Course; 72 were at the Work Study School; and 36 undergraduates from Oxford University were attending special courses in industrial engineering and aerodynamics. It is estimated that during next academic year there will be the equivalent of 400 full-time students at the 101W College. These will comprise 275 to 300 diploma students; the equivalent of 80 full-time students at the Work Study School (representing a total attendance of 630 in the course of the year); and the equivalent of 30 full-time students on other short courses (a total attendance of 900 to 950). It is not possible to give a precise estimate of the number of experienced managers and supervisors who will attend next year, but the majority of those following work study courses and many of those attending other short courses will be in that category. The duration of the 34 short courses at the college varies from two days to ten weeks.
§ 51. Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how long is the waiting list for new students for the Work Study School at Cranfield; and if it is proposed to expand the activities of the Work Study School.
§ Mr. CroslandThis School will be offering some 14 different types of course during the 1965–66 session, and the demand for places varies from course to course. I understand that pressure is greatest at present on the ten-week course for senior work study officers, the five-week organisation and methods course, and the four-week method study course, places for which are not available until May, February and January, 1966, respectively.
On the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have today given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn).
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he is satisfied with the present rate of increase in the student intake at the Royal College of Aeronautics; and to what extent the college is being used to its maximum potential;
(2) when a definitive decision will be taken on the future of the Royal College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, in the light of the recommendation of the Robbins Report;
(3) whether he is satisfied that the work at Cranfield is properly co-ordinated between the needs of industry and natural technological objectives; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. CroslandIt has been decided that this college should be brought within the ambit of a University grants system. The recommendations of the Governing Body on the future of this college were received last week and I am requesting the University Grants Committee to advise me upon them in the light of the overall pattern of higher education development. The links of the college with industry and the rate of potential increase in its student intake are relevant to the decision which I shall have to take in due course, but I am not yet ready to make a comprehensive statement.
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the graduates in aeronautics at Cranfield College have gone straight to the United States of America on gaining their diploma.
§ Mr. CroslandThis information is not available.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the recommendations of the Robbins Committee in connection with Cranfield College of Aeronautics have been accepted; and what action has now been taken to implement them.
§ Mr. CroslandI cannot add to the Answer which I have today given to the hon. Member.