Minister of State for Universities
The Minister of State for Universities is a mid-level position in the Department for Education in the British government. It is currently held by Michelle Donelan MP who took office on 13 February 2020.[1][2][3] The minister has oversight over British universities and the Student Loans Company.
| Minister of State for Universities | |
|---|---|
.svg.png.webp) | |
| Department for Education | |
| Style | Minister |
| Nominator | Prime Minister of the United Kingdom |
| Appointer | The Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister |
| Formation | 2001 (Second Blair ministry) |
| First holder | Margaret Hodge MP |
| Website | https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--97 |
Under New Labour, the role was known as Minister of State for Higher Education and Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Under the Cameron–Clegg coalition and May ministries, the role became known as Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities and Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. The role of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation was created out of this office.
At certain times, the Universities Minister worked in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Responsibilities
The minister has the following responsibilities:[4]
- Strategy for further education (post-16 education), jointly with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills
- Universities and higher education reform
- Higher education student finance, including the Student Loans Company
- Widening participation in higher education
- Quality of higher education and the Teaching Excellence Framework
- International education strategy, including education exports, international students, and technology in education (Edtech)
- Opportunity Areas programme
The position had increased prominence in 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic affected further education and university education.[5]
List of Ministers of State for Universities
| Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Political party | Prime Minister | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role created out of the Department for Education and Skills | |||||||
| Minister of State for Universities | |||||||
| Margaret Hodge
MP for Barking |
 |
11 June 2001 | 13 June 2003 | Labour | Tony Blair
(ll) | ||
| Minister of State for Higher Education | |||||||
| Alan Johnson |  |
13 June 2003 | 8 September 2004 | Labour | Tony Blair
(ll) | ||
| Kim Howells
MP for Pontypridd |
 |
10 September 2004 | 11 May 2005 | Labour | Tony Blair
(ll) | ||
| Bill Rammell
MP for Harlow |
 |
11 May 2005 | 5 October 2008 | Labour | Tony Blair
(lll) (l) | ||
| Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills | |||||||
| David Lammy
the MP for Tottenham |
 |
28 June 2007 | 11 May 2010 | Labour | Gordon Brown
(l) | ||
| Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities | |||||||
| David Willetts
MP for Havant |
 |
11 May 2010 | 14 July 2014 | Conservative | David Cameron | ||
| Greg Clark
MP for Royal Tunbridge Wells |
 |
15 July 2014 | 11 May 2015 | Conservative | David Cameron | ||
| Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation | |||||||
| Jo Johnson
MP for Orpington |
.jpg.webp) |
11 May 2015 | 9 January 2018 | Conservative | David Cameron
(II) | ||
| Sam Gyimah
MP for East Surrey |
 |
9 January 2018 | 30 November 2018 | Conservative | Theresa May
(II) | ||
| Chris Skidmore[6]
MP for Kingswood |
 |
5 December 2018 | 24 July 2019 | Conservative | Theresa May
(II) | ||
| Jo Johnson
MP for Orpington |
|
24 July 2019 | 5 September 2019 | Conservative | Boris Johnson
(l) | ||
| Chris Skidmore
MP for Kingswood |
|
10 September 2019 | 13 February 2020 | Conservative | Boris Johnson | ||
| Minister of State for Universities | |||||||
| Michelle Donelan
MP for Chippenham |
 |
13 February 2020 | Incumbent | Conservative | Boris Johnson
(ll) | ||
References
- Baker, John (17 February 2020). "MP gets new promotion". Wiltshire Times. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "Minister of State for Universities - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "Michelle Donelan named universities minister as science split off". Times Higher Education (THE). 13 February 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "Minister of State for Universities - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- "Ministers urged to put pressure on universities over refunds for students". Shropshire Star. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- Gaind, Nisha; Vesper, Inga (5 December 2018). "Government loyalist appointed new UK science minister as Brexit woes continue". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-07655-9.