Leaders of European higher education bodies have signed a
statement calling on governments across Europe to speed up Brexit
negotiations so talks can begin over the future of European
research, collaboration, and student mobility.
The statement from 22 representative organisations of
universities and national rectors' conferences from across Europe
asks for clarification on arrangements for the European Research
and Innovation programme – Horizon 2020 – and the Erasmus+
exchange programme after March 2019 when the UK is due to leave
the European Union.
Research and higher education will be discussed in the second
phase of Brexit negotiations, which are expected to start
following the conclusion of the first phase of discussions. The
European Council Summit concluded on 20 October 2017 that not
enough progress had been made to start the second phase. The
delay in the negotiations extends the uncertainties that the
higher education sector is facing.
Professor Janet Beer, President of Universities
UK and Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University, says the lack of
clarity is causing problems for universities now. She said: “We
are now entering the period in which universities need to be
finalising their research, collaboration and student exchange
programmes for 2019. There is an urgent need for clarity on the
UK’s participation in Horizon 2020 beyond Brexit. This scheme
enhances the impact of our research by providing access to vital
networks, talent and funding. Without clarity, the risk is that
important European research programmes could stall.
“The arrival on campuses across Europe of students hoping to
study abroad in 2019 increases the need to know whether the UK
will or will not be able to continue to take part in
Erasmus+. Participation in outward mobility schemes, such
as Erasmus+, has major benefits for students, universities and
employers.”
Full statement from representative organisations of universities
and national rectors' conferences from across Europe:
Higher education, research and innovation are critical to the
future of Europe. Conditions favourable to close cooperation and
exchange are crucial to knowledge development in the interests of
our societies. Universities call on the leaders of our respective
governments and on the European Commission to accelerate the
process of reaching agreement on the UK’s continued participation
in, and contribution to, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ to the end of
these programmes. Clarification is now urgent: European consortia
are already being formed and bids designed ready to be submitted
after March 2019. Similarly, students arriving on campus this
autumn and planning a period abroad as part of their studies need
clarity on whether they can participate in Erasmus+ mobility
involving UK partners from 2019 onwards.
The time has come for clarity and agreement in this important
area. Universities must know which, if any, measures they need to
undertake in the future to enable their students to thrive and
their researchers to continue their innovative research. We urge
you to address these pressing issues.
Signatories: The Presidents of European Rectors' Conferences
Professor Rolf Tarrach, President, European
Universities Association
Professor Janet Beer, President, Universities
UK
Professor Jan Szmidt, President, Conference of
Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (KRASP)
Professor Helen Dannetun, Chair of the
Board, Association of Swedish Higher Education
(SUHF)
Pieter Duisenberg , President, Association of
Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU)
Professor Herman Van Goethem, President, Flemish
Interuniversity Council (VLIR)
Dr. József Bódis, President, Hungarian Rectors’
Conference
Professor Tiit Land, President, Universities
Estonia
Arvids Barsevskis, Chairman, Council of Rectors of
Latvia
Professor Michael O. Hengartner, President,
SwissUniversities
Professor Rudolf Kropil, President, Slovak Rectors´
Conference
Professor António M. Cunha, President, Portuguese
National Conference of Rectors (CRUP)
Professor Dragan MarušiÄ, President, Slovenian
Rectors’ Conference
Dr Jon Atli Benediktsson, President, National
Rectors Conference in Iceland
Professor Jouko Niinimäki, President , Universities
Finland (UNIFI)
Professor Tomas Zima, President, Czech Rectors'
Conference
Professor Mari Sundli Tveit, President, Norwegian
Association of Higher Education Institutions
Rector Anders Bjarklev, Chairman, Universities
Denmark
Prof. Dr. Oliver Vitouch, President, Universities
Austria (UNIKO)
Roberto Fernández, President, Conference of the
Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE)
Professor Alfred J. Vella, Rector, University of
Malta
Professor Vladimir Bumbasirevic, President
Conference of the Universities of Serbia
ENDS
Notes
- National
Rectors’ Conferences (NRCs) are member organisations that
represent the universities and higher education institutions in
their respective countries or regions. The NRCs represent their
members to government, parliament and civic organisations. The
signatories are all members of the European University
Association (EAU), which is the representative
organisation of universities and national rectors’ conferences
in 47 European countries.
