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Written question asked by Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 December 2025. It was answered by Josh MacAlister (Labour) on Thursday, 11 December 2025 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Young People: Unpaid Work

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of international educational internships on developing skills among young people.

Answer

The government believes that work and study placements overseas, including internships, can help students to develop their skills, gain international experience and boost their employability. That is why, in the current academic year, the department is funding over 35,200 Turing Scheme placements, an estimated 61% of which are for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

An evaluation of the Turing Scheme in its first year of operation showed that 91% of higher education and 80% of further education students on work placements believed that their Turing Scheme placement enhanced their career and prospects.

As set out at the UK-EU Summit in May, we are working towards association to Erasmus+ on mutually agreed financial terms. Erasmus+ provides opportunities for young people to study, train, or gain work experience abroad. Erasmus+ placements provide valuable international experiences, helping young people develop new skills, broaden horizons, and enhance future career prospects.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
94910
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Education British nationals abroad Young people Unpaid work
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk