On the day that the United Kingdom leaves the European
Union, higher education and research organisations from across
the UK and Europe have reaffirmed their commitment to working
together, and are calling on our respective governments to make
this a priority as discussions about the future relationship get
underway.
Alongside Universities UK, a total of 36 major domestic and
international organisations, which includes the European
University Association (EUA), 24 National University
representative bodies, the Confederation of British Industry
(CBI) and many other bodies across Europe, have committed to
maintaining their current relationships. These groups are asking
governments and the European Commission to ensure a swift
agreement on the UK’s full association to Erasmus+ and Horizon
Europe before the end of 2020.
The statement reads:
“We, the major bodies representing, and partnering
with, science and higher education across the UK and Europe, are
united in agreeing that we wish to continue to work together
following the departure of the UK from the European Union. We
call on our national governments and the European Commission to
act on the commitments of the political declaration and work
swiftly to agree a basis for continued collaboration through the
UK’s full association to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. Swift
agreement in this area of clear mutual benefit would be good for
all of us and should be reached before the end of 2020, allowing
for the development of innovative and stronger collaborations
over the decades to come.”
The UK and EU now enter a transition period that will last
until 31 December 2020. During this transition period the UK will
remain a full member of Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020. UK and
European institutions are encouraged to continue to exchange
staff and students through the Erasmus+ programme, and to
continue to collaborate through Horizon 2020. There will be no
changes to the UK’s participation in these programmes, including
for projects and mobilities that run past 31 December
2020.
The UK’s participation in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+,
which will both begin 1 January 2021, will be part of the
negotiations between the UK and the EU. UK universities are
pressing the UK government to prioritise negotiating continued
participation in these programmes and, if that cannot be
achieved, to explore putting into place national replacement
schemes.
The full list of signatories:
Academy of Medical Sciences
Aurora Universities Network
British Council EU Region
Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE)
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
CESAER
Council of Rectors of Latvia
Conference of University Presidents, France (CPU)
Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland
(CRASP)
Czech Rectors’ Conference (CRC)
Rectors conference of the Belgian French universities
(CREF)
Crue Universidades Españolas – Spanish Rectors’
Conference
The Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI)
Portuguese Rectors’ Conference (CRUP)
European Consortium of Innovative Universities
(ECUI)
European University Association (EUA)
Flemish Interuniversity Council
GuildHE – a UK representative body for small and specialist
universities and colleges
Hungarian Rectors’ Conference (HRC)
The German Rectors' Conference (HRK)
Icelandic Rector´s Conference
Irish University Association
League of European Research Universities (LERU)
The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions
(SUHF)
swissuniversities
The Guild of European Research-Intensive
Universities
Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe
(UNICA)
Universities Finland (UNIFI)
Universities Austria
Universities Denmark
Universities Estonia
Universities Lithuania
Universities Norway
University of Luxembourg
Universities UK
The Association of Universities in the Netherlands
(VSNU)
Notes
1. More information about what the Brexit transition period
means for universities can be found here
2. General FAQs abut Brexit and universities is
available here
3. To see what universities would like to see from a
post-Brexit settlement between the UK and the EU,
see here
4. To arrange an interview or to request further
information, please email Annie Bell or
call +44 20 7419 5470
5. 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
6. Universities UK International (UUKi) represents UK
higher education institutions (HEIs) globally and helps them
flourish internationally. To do this we actively promote UK HEIs
abroad, provide trusted information for and about them, and
create new opportunities through our unique ability to act at
sector level. We draw on UK university expertise to influence
policy in the UK and overseas, delivering information, advice and
guidance to facilitate mutually beneficial collaboration between
UK HEIs and a broad range of international partners.
Visit: www.international.ac.uk
