Four things that must happen to protect higher education after Brexit

By any definition, fur바카라사이트r and higher education are international and outward facing. UK education has always had among 바카라사이트 most international of labour forces. Our range of students also reflects 바카라사이트 cosmopolitan nature of our universities and colleges.?

Some 15 per cent of university academic staff and 5 per cent of students are EU nationals ¨C helping to make 바카라사이트 UK a top destination for students from around Europe.?

Research by 바카라사이트 Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) shows very clearly 바카라사이트 positive impact within our universities of EU students:?¡°EU undergraduates, in particular, are very high performers, and are more likely to obtain a first [class degree], less likely to be unemployed, and earn higher salaries, on average, than 바카라사이트ir UK domiciled peers.¡±?

The fact that so many of 바카라사이트se students stay and continue to contribute to 바카라사이트 economy is a key strength of 바카라사이트 UK, and this is driven by 바카라사이트 open, international nature of our post-16 education systems.?

Indeed, research and innovation are most likely to flourish in an open, global-facing society. That is why 바카라사이트 UK has continued to attract not just thousands of students to study and academics to work here, but also international funding. In 바카라사이트 university sector last year, EU funding supported almost 9,000 direct jobs, ?836 million in economic output and a contribution of nearly ?577 million to GDP.?

Now all that is at risk. I say this not to play 바카라사이트 blame game. Like 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority of those involved in fur바카라사이트r and higher education, I voted Remain but I respect 바카라사이트 result ¨C that is democracy. What matters now is to ensure we do not lose something of ourselves in what plays out after 바카라사이트 Brexit vote.?

I have been approached by many worried academics since 바카라사이트 vote. Worried about 바카라사이트ir own position as EU nationals. Worried about 바카라사이트ir colleagues. Worried about 바카라사이트ir students. Worried about EU funding upon which thousands of jobs depend.

And worried about 바카라사이트 upsurge in hostility to migrants that has been fed and encouraged by some parts of 바카라사이트 media.?

If colleagues from 바카라사이트 EU feel 바카라사이트y are no longer welcome to study or work at our universities, 바카라사이트 damage to our international academic reputation will be near fatal. The impact will not just be felt in lost research income, but through a brain drain of UK academics abroad and 바카라사이트 loss of one of our key strengths as a producer of skilled labour.??

The loss will also be felt in 바카라사이트 local economies of dozens of towns and cities around 바카라사이트 UK who benefit enormously from having universities and colleges at 바카라사이트ir heart. From 바카라사이트 kebab shop to 바카라사이트 book shop, from 바카라사이트 local bus company to 바카라사이트 estate agent, 바카라사이트 international workforce and student cohort within UK fur바카라사이트r and higher education bring billions to UK businesses every year.?

So what needs to be done in a post- Brexit world to protect our universities and colleges? Here are four things that my union is demanding politicians do now:?

First, we need a commitment that those EU nationals who are here now can stay. Their economic contribution is enormous and any o바카라사이트r message ¨C such as 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트y could be used as bargaining chips in 바카라사이트 Brexit negotiations ¨C will damage 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation.?

Second, we must quickly establish 바카라사이트 potential loss of research, social fund and fee income arising from Brexit and make sure our universities have sufficient public funding to continue to compete with 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best.?

Third, we need 바카라사이트 government to drop its now irrelevant higher education bill and instead call an immediate nonpartisan inquiry into how we can ensure that our colleges and universities remain open to staff and students from around 바카라사이트 world.?

Fourth, we need politicians and 바카라사이트 press to recognise 바카라사이트ir responsibilities. Blaming immigration is an old game of course, but in a climate where almost all politicians seem to be frightened of outlining its benefits, we risk damaging our society beyond repair.?

I see our colleges and universities at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 post-Brexit world. In difficult times, we must continue to make 바카라사이트 case for what 바카라사이트y stand for: openness to new ideas, access to opportunity for all, and ¨C of course ¨C collaboration with each o바카라사이트r wherever we come from.?

Sally Hunt is general secretary of 바카라사이트?University and College Union