At a Universities UK (UUK) conference to be held today, Thursday
29 November, delegates will consider how universities can address the implications
of Brexit.
In his keynote speech, Chief Executive of Universities UK,
Alistair Jarvis, will set out what universities require from government
post-Brexit to deliver maximum benefit to British people, local communities and
the economy, regardless of whether there is a deal or not.
Alistair Jarvis said: “It is critical to the national interest, to the
economy and wider society, that the UK’s universities thrive post-Brexit – to
do so, our government must show the required ambition and provide the right
support to ensure that they are at the heart of a successful post-Brexit UK.”
To achieve this desired impact the government must focus on the
following policy priorities:
Ensuring the promises made on
confirmation of settled status for EU nationals working at our
universities are met through a smooth, simple and timely process
Developing an ambitious
international education strategy to grow international student numbers
Implementing an immigration system
that recognises the value of international students and staff and enables
them to enter the UK with minimal barriers and bureaucracy
Supporting
the expansion of outward student mobility by securing the UK's involvement
in the next Erasmus+ programme from 2021
Supporting the growth of
international research collaboration by securing access to, and influence
over, the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (the successor
to Horizon 2020)
The speech will also draw attention to the significant and
damaging implications of a ‘no deal’ Brexit for universities.
Alistair Jarvis said: “A ‘no deal’ Brexit would have huge
implications for universities in all corners of the UK, and prove enormously
damaging for regional jobs, growth and skills. EU staff and students at British
universities, and UK staff and students at European universities, would be left
facing huge uncertainty.”
The event coincides with the publication of UUK’s
official ‘no deal’ advice which outlines the risks to universities of the
UK leaving the European Union (EU) without a deal.
Notes:
The
conference ‘UK universities: preparing for Brexit’ will take place on
Thursday 29 November at Woburn House Conference Centre, 20 Tavistock
Square, London.
UUK’s official advice to government
on the risks to universities if the UK leaves the European Union (EU)
without a deal can be found here.
Universities UK is the collective
voice of 137 universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland. Its mission is to create the conditions for UK universities to be
the best in the world; maximising their positive impact locally,
nationally and globally. Universities UK acts on behalf of universities,
represented by their heads of institution. Visit: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
