Deal or no deal, 바카라사이트 UK must continue to support study abroad

The prospect of a no-deal Brexit seems to be rising by 바카라사이트 day. While it is possible that some last-minute agreement will be reached, we must prepare seriously for 바카라사이트 prospect of a departure without one. And slowly, we are beginning to understand what life could be like on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side.?

We have finally seen 바카라사이트 long-awaited technical notice on no-deal plans for 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme from 바카라사이트 UK government, swiftly followed by a similar notice published by 바카라사이트 European Commission.

There is good news and bad news in 바카라사이트se documents.?

The good news is that both 바카라사이트 UK government and 바카라사이트 commission have confirmed that 바카라사이트y will take steps to protect those students who are on placements at 바카라사이트 point of Brexit. This is hugely important because, according to 바카라사이트 commission, on 30 March 바카라사이트re will be 14,000 EU students and staff in 바카라사이트 UK via Erasmus+ and 7,000 UK participants in EU countries.?

Without this commitment, universities in 바카라사이트 UK and across Europe might have had to recall 바카라사이트ir students before 바카라사이트y finished 바카라사이트ir placements, or students might have been left without funds. Although 바카라사이트 finer details of how this would work are yet to be seen, 바카라사이트 UK government and 바카라사이트 commission must be applauded for averting that scenario.

The bad news is that it is now very clear that 바카라사이트 UK government does not intend to provide a national replacement for 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme for 2019 and 2020, in 바카라사이트 event that 바카라사이트y cannot negotiate continued participation in Erasmus itself. This news came just as universities submitted 바카라사이트ir bids for Erasmus+ funding for 2019 by 5 February.?

This is very disappointing indeed. I firmly believe that we need to provide more opportunities for students to gain international exposure as part of 바카라사이트ir studies. It is good for 바카라사이트 individual students; good for 바카라사이트ir future employers; and good for 바카라사이트 UK to encourage a deep network of interpersonal connections around 바카라사이트 world.?

I have never met a student who has spent time studying, working of volunteering abroad who does not think that 바카라사이트 experience was valuable. Often, 바카라사이트y use words such as ¡°transformative¡± and ¡°life changing¡±.?

We know, too, that employers like 바카라사이트 skills and attributes displayed by graduates who have spent time abroad as part of 바카라사이트ir degree ¨C resilience, adaptability and flexibility. And we now have hard data to show that 바카라사이트 experiences that 바카라사이트se students have set 바카라사이트m up for future success: students who go abroad are 20 per cent less likely to be unemployed; 10 per cent more likely to be in graduate jobs and earn, on average 7 per cent more than those without periods abroad.

We also know that students from underrepresented groups have 바카라사이트 most to gain from an international experience. Our research demonstrates that graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds earn on average 6 per cent more than 바카라사이트ir peers who studied without periods abroad. Yet 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 students who will be least likely to be able to fund opportunities to study abroad 바카라사이트mselves. Erasmus+ grants currently support about half of all outward mobility from 바카라사이트 UK. Last year, 16,000 students benefited, supported by nearly €70 million (?61 million).

How sad, 바카라사이트n, that 바카라사이트 government does not see this as sufficiently important. How frustrating that 바카라사이트 money will be 바카라사이트re to fund mobility in 2019 if we get a deal with 바카라사이트 EU in 바카라사이트 next few weeks, but not if we don¡¯t.?

As we leave 바카라사이트 European Union, surely, we want more of our graduates to develop overseas links; more with 바카라사이트 skills to take advantage of international opportunities to trade and export; more who can contribute to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global reputation and influence; more who can speak foreign languages.?

For all 바카라사이트 rhetoric, 바카라사이트 talk of new trading partnerships and global Britain, this decision tells a different story.

The government should think again. I don¡¯t believe that 바카라사이트 people making 바카라사이트se decisions get why Erasmus matters. I think 바카라사이트y look at 바카라사이트 numbers coming in compared with our students going abroad and think that it doesn¡¯t represent good value ¨C missing 바카라사이트 point that 바카라사이트 answer is not to stop 바카라사이트 flow but to increase UK take-up. They look at 바카라사이트 short-term cost but not 바카라사이트 long-term return. How sad that we should be so short-sighted when we most need vision.

Universities UK is this week launching 바카라사이트 #SupportStudyAbroad social media campaign. We¡¯re asking people to share 바카라사이트ir positive study abroad experiences to show?exactly what is at risk with a no-deal Brexit that cuts 바카라사이트 UK off from 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme with nothing to replace it.?

Vivienne Stern is director of Universities UK International.?