New Funding to Help University Students Gain Valuable Global Experience

New Government funding will enable more university students than ever before to study or work abroad as part of their degree course.

The Turing Scheme, the UK Government’s global programme, provides funding for international education and training opportunities across the world.

The University of Lincoln, UK, has been awarded almost half a million pounds through the scheme, which will mean even more opportunities for students to undertake overseas travel, ranging from short-term study trips to semester and year-long placements abroad.

Dr David Cobham, the University’s Associate Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean for Global Engagement, said: “We’re delighted that our bid for the Government’s Turing Scheme has been so successful. This will enable more of our students to benefit from the opportunity to expand their horizons by living and learning overseas.

“International experience can boost a student’s academic and personal development and help them gain a whole host of transferrable skills, from problem solving to learning a new language.

“Students who go abroad can improve their confidence and cultural awareness, grow their independence and gain valuable knowledge of the global workforce, all of which can potentially increase their employment prospects. Not to mention creating lifelong memories and friendships.

“It also boosts the name and reputation of the University worldwide and helps to create the ‘soft power’ that is so important for Britain’s international standing in the future.”

The University of Lincoln already has a strong network of partner universities offering a range of programmes in countries right across Europe and further afield in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and USA.

Graduate Charlotte Bennett undertook an Erasmus+ exchange period abroad during her Dance degree. She said: “Having the opportunity to study abroad has been an experience I have learned so much from and will never forget.”

Laura McCarthy, International Mobility Manager with Global Opportunities, and who manages the current Erasmus+ student/staff exchange programme, said: “Global Opportunities put forward an ambitious funding application to Turing earlier this year, and we are delighted that we have been granted over 80% of our original bid.

“This is great news for our students who want to study and work further afield than Europe and will also allow a greater number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate than ever before. We recognise that there can be many different perceived barriers to student mobility, and the Turing scheme will allow us to break down many of those barriers with extra funding for disadvantaged students, and shorter mobility periods.

“Our office is busy preparing to implement the new Turing scheme for those students starting their study abroad placements in August and September 2021, and those students are currently in the process of being issued their Turing grant agreements. The award of the Turing grant does not affect those students currently funded by the Erasmus+ programme which will come to an end in the UK by the end of May 2023.”

The Turing scheme will ultimately replace the Erasmus+ programme in the UK and places a strong emphasis on widening participation and promoting equal access to overseas study visits for students of all backgrounds.

Any students wanting to find out more about the Turing scheme and the opportunities on offer, can visit https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/global-opportunities/goglobal/ or email GO@lincoln.ac.uk and add TURING in the subject heading