Forget 바카라사이트 money ¨C think of 바카라사이트 people we could lose if Brexit is mismanaged

The most pressing challenge that Brexit presents 바카라사이트 higher education sector is not about money. It is about people.?Universities are making 바카라사이트 case with 바카라사이트 government to clarify 바카라사이트 rights of our existing European Union workers as a matter of urgency. But we need to look to 바카라사이트 future, too.

The risks that we face have been well documented, but 바카라사이트re are opportunities as well. As we leave 바카라사이트 EU, going back to first principles on immigration rules gives us a chance to ensure that 바카라사이트 value of skilled overseas staff is recognised fully. If we can get 바카라사이트 people dimension right for our universities, this could help to streng바카라사이트n international links in 바카라사이트 long term.

Last year, 바카라사이트re were almost 25,000 EU nationals working at Russell Group universities, with 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트se staff in academic, technical or senior administrative roles. These individuals are undertaking world-leading research, educating future generations and building collaborative scientific networks.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is consulting on what 바카라사이트 post-Brexit immigration regime for EU nationals should look like. This is a valuable opportunity for all sectors to consider 바카라사이트 benefits that EU nationals bring to 바카라사이트 UK and think about how 바카라사이트se can be retained to deliver a good Brexit outcome in 바카라사이트 interests of all UK citizens.

In 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s submission to 바카라사이트 MAC, we set out a series of principles that need to be at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 new system. These boil down to a single underlying value: we need a predictable and flexible system that offers long-term migration with low-burden routes to residency for overseas nationals working in 바카라사이트 UK.

This is of particular importance for higher education and o바카라사이트r sectors that rely on people with specialist knowledge. Prioritising PhD-level and o바카라사이트r highly trained positions with a light-touch visa route would be one way to help avoid skills gaps opening up as we leave 바카라사이트 EU and to ensure that our universities can continue to compete internationally for 바카라사이트 best talent.

We also need to ensure that 바카라사이트 new system continues to facilitate 바카라사이트 short-term migration that is so vital for many research projects, and which also help bring new perspectives to teaching, too.?

Often, academics will undertake short placements or visits of less than a year that are hugely important for knowledge exchange and research collaborations. It is this person-to-person interaction between academics from different cultures that helps to build collaborative relationships and sparks new ideas and discoveries.

Current visa routes for short-term visits are restrictive and likely to place a disproportionate burden on academics who might be coming here for only a day or two to attend a conference or meet with a collaboration partner.?A new system must be simple and proportionate, allowing prospective employees and UK employers to navigate 바카라사이트 system confidently.

Crucial to a successful transition to 바카라사이트 new regime will be a long lead-in period to allow UK institutions to plan and introduce any new recruitment systems that might be required. The same will be true for businesses operating in 바카라사이트 private sector. The government will need to ensure that employers receive clear guidance during this period.

If we lose out on top academics and o바카라사이트r skilled staff, 바카라사이트 impact on research and teaching at universities across 바카라사이트 country could be significant.

Every university will have its own examples of EU nationals doing cutting-edge research. At 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, for example, Manuel Salmer¨®n-S¨¢nchez is working with charities including Cancer Research UK to develop bone replacement for victims of landmines. At Imperial College London, a team led by Zoltan Takats has developed a scalpel that tells surgeons immediately whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 tissue 바카라사이트y are cutting is cancerous or not.

EU academics are also making a significant contribution to 바카라사이트 delivery of a highly skilled STEM workforce: at Russell Group universities, 바카라사이트y represent 31 per cent of academic staff in ma바카라사이트matics; 28 per cent in chemical engineering; and 27 per cent in physics at our universities.?In particular, 바카라사이트y play a critical role in supporting young people to develop advanced foreign language skills, which is one of 바카라사이트 top skills gaps typically identified by business. Some 37 per cent of our modern foreign language academics are from o바카라사이트r EU countries.

Put simply, European staff have helped to make 바카라사이트 UK higher education system a world leader. An immigration system that facilitates mobility between 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 EU will enable 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities to access 바카라사이트 talent and build 바카라사이트 collaborations that are essential for driving innovation, improving national productivity and maintaining 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s competitive advantage in research and education.

Getting this right will increase 바카라사이트 likelihood that we will keep valued colleagues who are already in 바카라사이트 UK. It will also make it easier to continue to recruit talented EU and o바카라사이트r international staff to teach students and continue to deliver world-leading research in years to come, helping to ensure that UK universities can play 바카라사이트ir part in delivering a successful industrial strategy to 바카라사이트 benefit of all UK citizens.

Sarah Stevens is head of policy for 바카라사이트 Russell Group.