National university organisations across Europe have warned that uncertainty about the UK’s continued involvement in European programmes after 2019 is already causing problems, and demanded faster progress in Brexit talks.
The leaders of higher education bodies in more than 20 countries, including Universities UK, said clarification was urgently needed on whether the UK would continue to be a part of European research and study abroad programmes after Brexit.
Prof Rolf Tarrach, the president of the European University Association, also signed the statement, which said that 18 months before the UK’s planned departure date from the EU, the lack of certainty was hampering decisions.
“European consortia are already being formed and bids designed ready to be submitted after March 2019,” the statement said. Similarly, first-year students “need clarity” now on whether they will be able to study abroad as part of their courses.
The academics called on government leaders and the European commission to urgently “accelerate the process of reaching agreement on the UK’s continued participation in, and contribution to” leading European academic programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+.
“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,” the organisations wrote.
Britain has said it wants to remain in the EU’s flagship €75bn (£66bn) Horizon 2020 research programme after Brexit, but has not said how, while its future in the Erasmus+ student mobility scheme, which helps nearly 300,000 students – including 30,000 Britons – study abroad each year, is unclear.
Prof Janet Beer, the president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of Liverpool University, said the lack of clarity was causing problems for universities. “We are entering the period in which universities need to be finalising their research, collaboration and student exchange programmes for 2019,” she said.
“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.”
Beer added: “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+. Outward mobility schemes such as Erasmus+ have major benefits for students, universities and employers.”
Research and higher education are due to be discussed in the second phase of Brexit negotiations dealing with the UK’s future relationship with the EU, but the first phase of the talks, focusing on divorce issues such as citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the financial settlement, has yet to be concluded.
EU27 leaders said at their summit last week that not enough progress had been made in phase one of the negotiations to move on to the second stage, but held out the hope that sufficient progress might have been achieved by their next summit in December. The key obstacle remains the size of the UK’s financial offer.
