A ‘no deal’ Brexit: implications for universities and minimising risk

In his keynote speech, Chief Executive of Universities UK, Alistair Jarvis, 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:

1. 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
2. Developing an ambitious international education strategy to grow international student numbers
3. 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
4. Supporting the expansion of outward student mobility by securing the UK’s involvement in the next Erasmus+ programme from 2021
5. 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.

The conference ‘UK universities: preparing for Brexit’ will take place on Thursday 29 November at Woburn House Conference Centre, 20 Tavistock Square, London.