Jersey Post Graduate Bursary scheme (FOI)

Please could I request further information regarding the Jersey Post Graduate Bursary for the year 2020. I would like to know the following:

A
How many applications were made, shortlisted and awarded in 2020

B
The total amount of funds awarded in 2020

C
The range of subject areas that were successful in 2020

D
A detailed breakdown of the numerical (point based system) marking schedule used to shortlist applications, including the criteria that assessors use to assess the standard of the application, a significant document that is not included on gov.je or any communication with Skills Jersey

E
Names and job titles of civil servants and politicians on the shortlisting panel in 2020

A
In 2020, 40 applications were received. 21 of those applications were shortlisted and 18 were awarded bursaries.

B
The total amount awarded in 2020 was £108,000. The current budget for 2020 is £120,000. £12,000 was awarded to continuing students.

C
The Department have determined that to provide a list of subjects would likely breach the privacy of the individuals and therefore, Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

However, subject areas included Languages, Engineering, Mathematics, and Sciences.

There are no subjects that are seen more favourably. The awards are based on the student’s application and presentation. 

D
Jersey Bursary Criteria
Students must have at least a 2.1 degree and must complete all the application. Whilst they do not need to have formally accepted a place they do need to have applied and have an option (conditional or unconditional).
 
Shortlisting Scoring
The scoring for the candidates is out of 40 and is based on; the completeness of the application, the standard of the personal statement and the standard and relevance of both of the references.

The following issues are not given any consideration in the scoring for candidates
• subject
• Jersey connection
• level of the course – masters or PhD
• Jersey need/skills gap
 
As seen on the application form which students complete as part of the Jersey Bursary Application, the shortlisting panel also take into account the following aspects when assessing/scoring the candidates:
• General information about the intended course
• Reason and purposes for pursuing study
• Any employment, work experience or voluntary work undertaken relevant to the planned course
• For a Masters course, a brief description of the general area in which the candidate plans to write about for their dissertation is requested, if applicable
 
Jersey Bursary Interviewing Criteria
The Panel Members will look at the following areas when considering awarding a grant:
• Application Form
• 1st Reference Report
• 2nd Reference Report
• Results
• Presentation
• Responses to Questions
 
Further information can be found here: 
Financing post-graduate courses

E
Shortlisting Panel Members
Head of Careers & Student Finance
Highlands College, Director of Quality and Compliance

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2)     Information is absolutely exempt information if –
(a)     it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and
(b)     its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.

(3)     In determining for the purposes of this Article whether the lawfulness principle in Article 8(1)(a) of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 would be contravened by the disclosure of information, paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 2 to that Law (legitimate interests) is to be read as if sub-paragraph (b) (which disapplies the provision where the controller is a public authority) were omitted.