§ David WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students are signed up to courses developed via the UKEU structure. [114135]
§ Margaret HodgeCurrently UK eUniversities Worldwide (UKeU) are running two pilot courses in advance of a full launch this autumn. The number of students enrolled is commercially sensitive, but so far the students are from twenty-four different countries.
§ David WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what UK higher education funding schemes sponsored by his Department UKEU are able to apply for. [114138]
§ Margaret HodgeAs UK eUniversities Worldwide (UKeU) is not a designated higher education institution, it is not eligible to be funded in the normal way to provide education and research via the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). However, it does receive a grant from HEFCE for the provision of services connected with higher education.
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§ David WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many UK higher education institutions have signed contracts to produce courses for UKEU. [114136]
§ Margaret HodgeFollowing a call for proposals in April 2002, UK eUniversities Worldwide (UKeU) received sixty-nine submissions from UK higher education institutions. To date, contracts have been signed with thirteen institutions for a total of fourteen programmes, with some institutions working in consortia, and some offering more than one programme. Courses are being developed in conjunction with a further thirteen institutions, with contract negotiations at an advanced stage. It is expected that ten to twelve new programmes will be commissioned each year.