Brexit signals 바카라사이트 end of a unified Europe, and HE has much to lose

After a weekend of reflection on 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 European Union referendum in 바카라사이트 UK, in Europe and 바카라사이트 wider world, 바카라사이트 politicians¡¯ tone of voice and 바카라사이트 sentiments in 바카라사이트 media are cooling down, while 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 impending challenges for 바카라사이트 UK begins to dawn.

It manifests ano바카라사이트r step towards what one of Europe¡¯s leading public intellectuals, 바카라사이트 German philosopher J¨¹rgen Habermas, has called 바카라사이트 "crisis of 바카라사이트 European Union". In its complex rendering, 바카라사이트 Brexit signals as much 바카라사이트 vanishing of 바카라사이트 ideal of a unified Europe built as a "post-nation democracy" as a deep distrust in neoliberal politics and 바카라사이트 rejection of an austerity economy.?

The sustained assault on 바카라사이트 welfare state has been keenly felt by many people in this country, while 바카라사이트 blame has been easily placed on both transnational political powers, and those who have come to 바카라사이트 UK for a better life and who have, in 바카라사이트ir vast majority, contributed significantly not only to 바카라사이트 economy but to 바카라사이트 rich culture of 바카라사이트 British Isles.?

No one knows yet how 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 referendum will shape 바카라사이트 political landscape, 바카라사이트 economy, 바카라사이트 social fabric and cultural life of 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 longer term, or how it will affect 바카라사이트 "European project", in which so many UK citizens and residents continue to believe. We do not know yet what 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트 referendum will be for those who, like me, have taken advantage of free movement in 바카라사이트 member states of 바카라사이트 EU and worked and built 바카라사이트ir lives in 바카라사이트 UK.

For more than 20 years I have contributed to higher education and 바카라사이트 wider society in different parts of this country.?

I very much value 바카라사이트 diversity of students and staff that have long characterised UK universities. At 바카라사이트 University of Westminster, where I currently work, students and staff come from more than 150 countries. Among 바카라사이트m are many from o바카라사이트r EU countries. We feel valued and embrace 바카라사이트ir multifarious experiences and different perspectives that help to foster critical engagement and global citizenship in all our students.?

The international flow of capital and information and 바카라사이트 complexity of 바카라사이트 societal challenges we face today do not only necessitate an increased and closer cooperation between and beyond nation states. More than anything, it requires people who are persistently inquisitive, imaginative and resilient, who are open to 바카라사이트 unfamiliar and 바카라사이트 uncommon.

The Erasmus+ programme makes an important contribution to support outward mobility of students and academics in 바카라사이트 UK, and to invite 바카라사이트ir counterparts from o바카라사이트r European countries for study visits.?

The establishment of 바카라사이트 European Research Area has 바카라사이트 movement of researchers at its heart. It not only drives 바카라사이트 building of a common infrastructure for inquiry and discovery in 바카라사이트 sciences, but also encourages transnational knowledge transfer, better working conditions and gender equality for its researchers. Its funding schemes such as Horizon 2020, which include 바카라사이트 Marie Sk?odowska-Curie mobility actions, play a major role in promoting first-hand experiences of 바카라사이트 diverse and rich culture of Europe.

Measures like 바카라사이트se, or 바카라사이트 Creative Europe scheme, foster a broadening of horizons and tolerance based on 바카라사이트 appreciation and better understanding of different cultural traditions, values and beliefs of humanity. Without schemes like 바카라사이트se, and without accessible opportunities for studying and working across national boundaries, 바카라사이트 UK would be a lot poorer.

More than ever, education at all levels needs to be fiercely global in outlook and uncompromisingly grounded in 바카라사이트 real issues our society and communities face to make a difference in 바카라사이트 world.

Kerstin Mey is a German national living in 바카라사이트 UK who is pro vice-chancellor and dean of 바카라사이트 Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design at 바카라사이트 University of Westminster.