TEMPUS (Hansard, 21 May 1990)

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on United Kingdom participation in the TEMPUS scheme.

Mr. Jackson
I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 8 May 1990 at columns41–42.

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of differences in policy and practice between publicly funded institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom and those in other European Community countries, in respect of tuition fees for non-European Community students, on opportunities for United Kingdom institutions of higher education to participate in the TEMPUS scheme;
(2) what action he proposes to take to compensate United Kingdom institutions of higher education in respect of tuition fees for students from non-European Community countries under the TEMPUS scheme.

Mr. Jackson
The United Kingdom is not alone among Community member states in charging tuition and other fees to non-EC students. Against that background the Government are discussing with the Commission how fees may best be dealt with under the TEMPUS programme, with a view to ensuring full participation in the programme by United Kingdom institutions.

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on institutions of higher education in other European Community countries preparing courses of engineering46W and business management in English in order to meet the preferences of non-European Community students under the TEMPUS scheme.

Mr. Jackson
I have no detailed information. But I understand that some institutions in member states such as the Netherlands have introduced courses for overseas students and their own nationals which are conducted in English. It may be expected that in future the number of such courses will increase, whether under the TEMPUS programme or otherwise. Such developments, recognising the growing status of English as a world language, are to be welcomed, though within the Community only by studying in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland can students benefit from opportunities to study not only in English but alongside students whose language is English.