Turing Scheme opens up overseas study and work opportunities for students

Northumbria University, Newcastle, has received generous funding from the Turing Scheme to help students work and study abroad in the academic year 2021-22 

The new government-funded Turing Scheme to support international student mobility will see up to 35,000 UK students travel overseas in the next year on work and study placements. The £100 million programme will focus on supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, fostering partnerships globally, developing key employability skills and providing value for UK taxpayers.  Northumbria has secured almost £500,000 to support over 200 students, of which 108 will be from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Lucy Winskell OBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Employability and Partnerships at Northumbria, said: “We all know the benefits Erasmus offered our students, with the chance to work or study abroad enhancing both their learning experience and career potential. The new Turing scheme can do the same, opening the door to life-changing opportunities – especially for those students from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a university with a global reach and outlook, the Turing scheme also helps us to develop highly skilled graduates with an international mindset, so valuable to their employability.” 

Annually, Northumbria typically supports over 400 students to study and work overseas for a semester or full academic year.  Despite the difficulties of the past 18 months, the University has continued to work with partners and students across the world, with round 50 students participating in overseas study programmes in 2020-21, and 35 completing virtual internships with international firms. 

Marketing student Gabrielle Scotchbrook took part in a semester-long virtual internships from September to December 2020. She commented: “Being able to work with a global firm based in Japan was an element of the virtual internship that I loved, because it allowed me to develop international marketing understanding in an environment full of different cultures, races and ethnicities. This significantly heightened my emotional and cultural intelligence, in turn giving me a competitive edge that will most definitely contribute to my team effectiveness in future.” 

Professor. Jon Reast, Pro Vice-Chancellor International at Northumbria, added: “The Turing Scheme is an important element of our internationalisation agenda. Through this fantastic programme we will be able to strengthen our international partnerships and create sustainable relationships with reputable institutions globally. Northumbria has a tradition of forging strong links with overseas universities which will see another push through student engagement and exchanges.” 

While Covid-19 restrictions are still in place, over 200 Northumbria students are still preparing to study and work abroad supported by the Turing Scheme in nations including the USA and Malaysia. Travel contingency plans and enhanced risk assessments have been put in place to support students in a safe and consistent way. 

Alejandra Vicencio, Head of International Mobility Northumbria, explained: “The close relationships we have fostered with our exchange partners have allowed us to continue to offer international placements to our students through a global pandemic. The benefits of these experiences for global understanding and a sustainable future, including in the field of health, make every additional effort our team has made worthwhile. We’ve had to make sure the students are as safe as possible, and they can continue to learn in a global environment.”