Institutes of Technology 2022-03-14
2022-03-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
No specific background provided, but the question focuses on the progress made in rolling out institutes of technology.
What progress he has made in rolling out institutes of technology?
The Government are investing £290 million to establish a network of 21 institutes of technology throughout the country, actively targeting the areas where they are needed the most. Wave 1 has already established 12 IOTs across 50 locations, and wave 2 will add a further nine IOTs.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question focuses on the east of England's lack of representation in the roll-out of institutes of technology, despite two waves of IOTs having been established.
It is concerning that, after two waves of IOTs, a vacuum has emerged in East Anglia that places local learners at an unfair disadvantage compared with those elsewhere. I am grateful to the Minister for Higher and Further Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham (Michelle Donelan), for the briefing that she provided to Suffolk and Norfolk MPs following the decision to reject the east of England bid; will she or my hon. Friend convene a meeting of those who prepared the bid, the two county councils and MPs to agree a strategy to fill the vacuum as quickly as possible?
As my hon. Friend noted, he had a meeting with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Higher and Further Education on this issue. I know he is a passionate advocate for education in his area and wants to see the excellent success of our IOTs replicated in his region. At this time, there are no plans to extend IOTs, but we very much keep the policy under review and want to see them go from strength to strength.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific commitment to convene a meeting was made.
We Very Much Keep The Policy Under Review
Response accuracy