As EU leaders gather for a summit in Brussels today, Universities
UK has welcomed the 21-month Brexit transition period, due to be
agreed at the meeting.
In a new priorities statement on
Brexit, Universities UK has, however, called for urgent clarity
on a number of areas affecting universities. This includes the
status of EU students coming to the UK after 2019 and the UK's
long-term participation in EU research and innovation programmes
and the Erasmus+ scheme.
Dame Janet Beer, President of Universities UK and
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said:
“The transition deal means we will avoid the cliff-edge that
many, including universities, had feared.
“The phase one Brexit and transition agreements provide much
needed certainty for the nearly 50,000 EU nationals working
across UK universities, who are now clearer on what their
post-Brexit rights will look like. It is important that these
rights are enshrined into UK law as soon as possible. These staff
make an immeasurably important contribution to the work of our
universities.
“Researchers in the UK will continue to be able to participate in
the EU's important research framework until 2020. And students
will be able to continue in the Erasmus+ exchange programme, also
until 2020.
“Longer term, it is vital that the final Brexit deal secures UK
participation, as a full associate country, in the next EU
research innovation programme and the successor Erasmus+ scheme.
There is also an urgent need to confirm the fee status of EU
students starting courses in 2019. EU students are already asking
about 2019 study, so it is crucial now that this is confirmed by
governments across all parts of the UK.
“Universities UK will continue to work with UK governments and
officials in Brussels to secure an effective post-exit settlement
for universities.”
In the new, Brexit priorities statement published
today, Universities UK said:
- The future UK-EU relationship agreed through phase two should
include a firm commitment to continued collaboration and exchange
between the UK and the EU in higher education and research
- The UK should secure association to a Framework Programme 9
(the next EU research and innovation programme and successor to
Horizon 2020), provided that it continues to focus on excellence
- The UK should agree access to the Erasmus+ successor
programme, once it has been legislated (expected in 2020).
Erasmus+ is a significant programme for student and staff outward
mobility, with as many as 55% of all UK students who go abroad
choosing to do so through the scheme
- Across all parts of the UK, governments should confirm that
EU students starting a course in 2019–20 – and throughout any
post-exit transition period – will continue to be eligible for
home fee status, and be eligible for loans and grants on the
current terms, and that this will apply for the duration of their
course
- The UK must develop a new, post-Brexit immigration policy
that encourages all suitably qualified international students and
staff to choose to study and work in the UK.
ENDS
Notes
- The new Brexit statement paper – How can government
ensure universities are best-placed to maximise their
contribution to a successful, global UK post-EU
exit? – is available to download.
- There are nearly 50,000 (49,530) EU staff working in UK
higher education institutions (latest HESA data –
2016/17). This represents 12% of the total staff population
of 419,710. This is broken down to: 17% of total academic staff
at UK universities, or 35,920, are from other EU countries.
Among professional services staff at UK universities, 6% or
13,610 are from other EU countries.
- The Higher Education
Workforce Survey 2017 from the Universities and
Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) revealed that two-thirds
of universities had said that the EU referendum had had no
impact, to date, on their ability to recruit staff from the EU.
- The UK is host 134,835 students from other EU countries
(latest HESA data –
2016/17). Currently, all universities are unable to provide
answers to EU students enquiry about 2019–20 entry. We know
that 80% of students first register an interest in studying
abroad more than 12 months in advance of actual enrolment. With
students already enquiring and prospectuses printed for the
2019–20 cycle in early 2018, the need for clarification across
the UK is urgent. The Scottish government has
already confirmed (1
February 2018) the fee status of non-UK EU citizens who come to
Scotland to study for an undergraduate degree in 2019-20.
- For more detail on what December’s, phase one Brexit
agreement means for universities, Alistair Jarvis (Chief
Executive of Universities UK) wrote a comment article
for Research Fortnight: Now the real work
begins
