To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for his assessment of the opportunities for international exchanges for university and college students via the Turing Scheme, relative to the Erasmus Scheme; and (ii) to detail the conversations he has had with the Republic of Ireland government regarding their involvement in enabling Northern Irish students to remain engaged with the Erasmus Scheme.

(i) The Turing Scheme broadly replicates the structure, approach and levels of funding support for individuals and institutions provided through the Erasmus+ programme. While the Turing Scheme does not provide funding to support inward mobilities to the UK, it does provide Northern Ireland based learners with significant opportunities to work and study abroad, with a stronger focus on global opportunities than under Erasmus+.

In the first year of the Turing Scheme, all of Northern Ireland’s Higher Education and Further Education bids were successful, securing a total of £1.6m of funding to support mobilities in Academic Year 2021/22. The UK Government has recently announced the continuation of the scheme. My officials and I will continue to engage with the UK Government with a view to ensuring the scheme meets the needs of Northern Ireland.

(ii) I have not had any conversations with the Irish government on this issue, however my Department is aware of the Irish Government’s proposals to support full-time third level students at Northern Ireland institutions to continue to access the Erasmus+ programme, by allowing them to temporarily register at an Irish institution for the duration of their mobility. While the progression of the proposed arrangements is a matter for the Irish Government and my Department has therefore not contributed to the development of the proposals, Departmental approval would be required for Further Education Colleges to participate in any arrangements developed by the Irish Government, given their status as NDPBs of the Department. Departmental officials will stay abreast of any developments in relation to the proposals, in order to assess the potential implications from a Northern Ireland perspective.