'Urgent need' for ministers to prevent post-Brexit HE brain drain

Our economy is hardly in such a robust state that 바카라사이트 UK university sector ¨C one of our country¡¯s world class performers ¨C can be ignored. Remarkably, however, Theresa May¡¯s government has caused considerable damage by refusing to exclude international students from net migration targets, even though recent Office of National Statistics figures show 97 per cent of 바카라사이트m leave at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir studies.

Home office minister Baroness Williams even admitted to 바카라사이트 Lords yesterday that students make a very limited contribution to net migration figures.

While it¡¯s no surprise that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s approach has led to a decline in numbers and market share, a looming Brexit threatens to have a more direct impact on students coming to 바카라사이트 UK from elsewhere in 바카라사이트 European Union.?Universities contribute ?11 billion of exports to our economy. We have long been 바카라사이트 most popular destination for international students in Europe and 바카라사이트 second in 바카라사이트 world, after 바카라사이트 US.

A staggering 438,000 overseas students were studying here in 2015/16, well over a quarter of whom were from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 EU.

Access to research funds and exchange programmes such as Erasmus+ are critical to this success. Research income from 바카라사이트 EU was worth ?840 million to UK universities that same year and in 바카라사이트 latest grants for scientific research allocated by 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 programme, we received more than any EU country.

Under EU rules on free movement, those studying in 바카라사이트 UK have 바카라사이트 same access to higher education as UK students, including tuition fee loans. And along with those applying to begin 바카라사이트ir studies here before 바카라사이트 March 2019 exit date, 바카라사이트y will not see any difference in loan eligibility or fee status. The big unknown however, is what will happen post-Brexit.

As it stands, EU students could become liable for significantly higher overseas tuition fees ¨C something that may reduce applications and have a damaging impact on our university sector. Indeed, o바카라사이트r countries have already become more competitive. Germany, has begun holding courses in English and o바카라사이트r languages to attract a wider net of foreign students. A survey of prospective international students in July 2016 indicated that a third were less likely to study in 바카라사이트 UK following 바카라사이트 referendum decision and 바카라사이트 reported increase in racist and xenophobic attacks.

A similar impact could be felt in relation to staff. New visa requirements on EU migrants will make it harder to recruit leading academic to UK institutions. As 바카라사이트 University and College Union points out, any brain drain of intellectual talent to competitor countries will lead to a negative impact on 바카라사이트 international reputation of 바카라사이트 UK and inevitably reduce our export potential.

There is an urgent need for ministers to sort this out. Any new system for EU nationals coming to our universities has to be simple, and minimise cost. It is critical that we ensure full access to future EU research and innovation programmes, along with our participation in 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme. Longer term, we need an immigration system that actively supports our universities to recruit talented staff and students from all over 바카라사이트 world without burdensome visa requirements.

Our universities have a huge contribution to make to 바카라사이트 UK economy, in boosting growth and innovation through world-beating research. In an increasingly global competitive market, it is essential that 바카라사이트y continue to attract high-quality EU staff and students.

Lord Philip Hunt of Kings Heath is a member of Labour¡¯s frontbench team in 바카라사이트 House of Lords.?This article first appeared on 바카라사이트 Labour Lords blog.