The University of Westminster has successfully secured £1.2m of funding from the Department of Education’s Turing Scheme to support student mobility. This will ensure that Westminster students are able to gain valuable experience from working, studying and travelling abroad during the 2024/25 academic year.
The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s programme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. Funding is available for placements between four weeks and one year in duration. The scheme has a focus on widening participation with additional funding available for students who traditionally face more barriers to international opportunities. Turing can be used to fund study exchanges at partner institutions as well as international work placements and a range of short-term global opportunities such as international summer schools, volunteering placements and language courses.
Many of the opportunities are facilitated and/or supported by the Student Mobility Team, but a number of placements are led by academic colleagues. Examples include internships at the UN Institute of Migration, clinical placements for School of Life Sciences students in Ghana and Malta and a joint studio for Architecture BA Honours students in China.
Kareem Mahfouz representing Hong Kong Baptist University at the Harvard World Model United Nations
Students at the University of Westminster have already gained invaluable experiences with support from the Turing Scheme. Kareem Mahfouz, a third-year Finance and Business Management BA Honours student, recently completed a year abroad at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). He said: “As a London-born student, the idea of studying abroad seemed daunting, but taking the leap outside of my comfort zone allowed me to emerge transformed. My time at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) enriched my personal and professional development in ways I never imagined.”
Owain Evans, Student Mobility Manager at the University of Westminster who led the Turing Scheme bid, said: “We are delighted that our Turing bid was once again successful, and we have secured funding to support Westminster students undertaking an array of international opportunities in the year ahead. The success of our bid also reflects our desire to support students who are traditionally underrepresented in international mobility, providing funding support to students who need it most. We have seen over the last three years of Turing how the scheme can positively impact students in terms of their academic progression and employability, and look forward to supporting many more across the 24/25 academic year.”
This funding directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10: Reduced Inequalities and 17: Partnerships for Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about working and studying abroad at the University of Westminster.
