The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was a UK government department created on 28 June 2007 to take over some of the functions of the Department of Education and Skills and of the Department of Trade and Industry. Its head office was based at Kingsgate House, 66-74 Victoria Street, London SW1, which has now been demolished. In June 2009 it was merged into the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.Number10: Changes to the machinery of Government It was responsible for adult learning, some parts of further education, higher education, skills, science and innovation, but only some of the department's functions were UK-wide. It oversaw the science budget, provided through the Research Councils, for the UK as a whole.Research councils UK On the other hand, education is a devolved matter and there were corresponding departments in the Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government.House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee - First Report Cross-border provision of public services for Wales: further and higher education
Strategic objectives The Department's strategic objectives were to
A number of education functions of the former DfES (largely those focussed on the 14 – 19 age group) were taken over by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Sponsored bodies DIUS had responsibility for a number of Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs). These included the Research Councils: Medical Research Council Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Other NDPBs sponsored by DIUS were: Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Student Loans Company (SLC) The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) The Design Council
In addition DIUS was the sponsor department for [NESTA] - the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.
Ministers MinisterPortraitTitleJohn Denham Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills Paul Drayson, Baron Drayson Minister of State for Science and InnovationDavid Lammy Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual PropertySiôn Simon Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Further EducationAnthony Young, Baron Young of Norwood GreenParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills and Apprenticeships
Permanent Secretary The first Permanent Secretary, Ian Watmore, moved to a new appointment, leading to the appointment of Sir Jon Shortridge who was in post a matter of nine days before the department was dissolved.
See also Minister of State for Universities
References
External links Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills: archived official website as of May 5, 2009
DIUS YouTube channel Research Councils: Medical Research Council Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Economic and Social Research Council Arts and Humanities Research Council Science and Technology Facilities Council Natural Environment Research Council Other NDPBs sponsored by DIUS were: Higher Education Funding Council for England Student Loans Company The Technology Strategy Board The Design Council Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts