Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

University STEM Subjects

Monday 12 October 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government encourages the study of STEM subjects at all stages for economic and productivity benefits.
  • The Government is removing loan funding barriers for part-time STEM study at equivalent or lower levels.
  • The Dyson Institute will be able to award its own degrees, fostering investment in the next generation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Virginia Crosbie
Education Science & Technology
Context

The question addresses steps to encourage people to take up STEM subjects in higher education.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to encourage more people to take up STEM subjects at university. The Government encourages the study of science, technology, engineering and maths at all stages, which is vital for our economy and productivity.

Answer from Michelle Donelan

The Government encourage the study of science, technology, engineering and maths at all stages, which is vital for our economy and to drive productivity. In higher education, we are removing loan funding barriers for part-time STEM study at equivalent or lower levels and piloting graduate conversion courses for studying engineering, computer science and artificial intelligence.

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Q2 Virginia Crosbie
Education Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the organising of an innovation jobs fair and asks how the minister is encouraging innovative companies such as Dyson to invest in the next generation.

Question

In my constituency of Ynys Môn, I am working with Coleg Menai, M-SParc and the team at Bangor University to organise an innovation jobs fair. How is the Minister encouraging innovative companies such as Dyson to invest in the next generation?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Dyson's UK site is based just outside my constituency, and I must declare that it has twice sponsored the Wiltshire Festival of Engineering, which I have organised. I am delighted that, as of last week, the pioneering Dyson Institute will be able to award its own degrees. A business taking this step is revolutionary, and I hope that many more will follow, to give students a much more diverse choice in higher education and ensure that we can deliver the skills that this country needs.

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