The Turing scheme will be backed by over £100 million, providing funding for around 35,000 students in universities, colleges and schools to enable them to participate in placements and exchanges overseas. The scheme started in September 2021 and is already enjoying enormous success.
The Turing Scheme, named after Alan Turing, the famous British code breaker and mathematician, is the UK government’s scheme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world.
Replacing the old Erasmus+ programme, it supports Global Britain by providing an opportunity for UK organisations from the higher education, further education, vocational education and training and schools sectors to offer their students, learners and pupils life-changing experiences to study or work abroad.
Borders College recently submitted an application to the new Turing Scheme and received funding to provide support for study and work abroad placements for their students. According to F.E news in April, the college applied to the Scheme to enable students studying hospitality to undertake a two-week placement with Centennial College in Toronto, Canada.
Centennial College is a large community college with several campuses across the city. They have a well-established international programme and highly developed partnerships with organisations across the globe. A multi-cultural college, they offer many similar programmes to Borders College including sustainable construction, hospitality, child care, various creative industries and social care.
The project aims to enhance the learning experience of Borders College students through international placements at colleges and in workplaces. This will enable the students to gain new knowledge, skills and practical working experiences in new and innovative environments and to aid achievement of qualifications that will impact on their personal development and future employability.
The international placement also aims to provide students with the opportunity to engage in basic foreign language competencies relevant to each placement and promote global citizenship by developing understanding and experience of other cultures.
During the placement, students will have the opportunity to develop their core and meta-skills as well as gain valuable practice and occupational skills. They will experience different approaches to work and learning and build confidence and self-awareness.
Many students who have undertaken some international study as part of their course develop lifelong friendships and feel they have gained maturity and improved social skills through their experience.
Borders College is keen to build stronger international relationships through an open exchange of ideas, sharing good practice and development of new teaching methods. They hope this programme will empower students and staff to be more innovative, creative and committed to personal and professional development. Plus they believe the Scheme will increase opportunities for international collaboration on joint projects and research.