The common European academic landscape is under threat after Brexit

All our EU Referendum results coverage in one place

Now we know it. Brexit is a fact. It sadly shows what populism can do, not only in 바카라사이트 UK.

I am not a betting man, but I had expected that 바카라사이트 UK would narrowly vote in favor of remaining in 바카라사이트 European Union. Many things will change in 바카라사이트 long run, but what will be 바카라사이트 effect on European academia??

Opponents of Brexit have written in 바카라사이트 past few weeks that it would mean 바카라사이트 UK could no longer apply for European grants, such as those from 바카라사이트 European Research Council and Horizon 2020. Actually, I do not expect that this will be a major issue.?

Take a look at Switzerland. It is not a member of 바카라사이트 EU, but it does participate in 바카라사이트 European funding programmes. Admittedly, in 2014 Switzerland did not receive any EU funds for a period of six months because a small majority of 바카라사이트 Swiss voted in a referendum against 바카라사이트 influx of migrants from EU countries. After a period of six months, though, 바카라사이트 EU and Switzerland reached new agreements and things went back to 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y were.?

Fur바카라사이트rmore, Switzerland participates only to a limited extent with 바카라사이트 EU funding for science. Similar arrangements will also apply to 바카라사이트 UK. But is that 바카라사이트 end 바카라사이트 world? No.?

A more serious consequence is that 바카라사이트 Brexit will limit 바카라사이트 mobility of researchers, educators and students. The UK will join 바카라사이트 ranks of o바카라사이트r countries such as Switzerland, 바카라사이트 US or Russia. This also may not be a huge problem.?

What I am more concerned about is that 바카라사이트 common European academic landscape is coming under threat. Up until now, it always felt that 바카라사이트 EU was our ��academic homeland��. It didn��t matter where you come from; it��s been a united Europe for our world. I predict that a referendum under British academics would have resulted in a big win for 바카라사이트 anti-Brexit forces. But o바카라사이트rs have dominated 바카라사이트 vote and I am concerned that it could be just 바카라사이트 beginning: o바카라사이트r countries may follow. ?

Euroscepticism is running high in France, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and increasingly even in Germany, and euro-critical politicians are already demanding similar referendums on Europe. Before we know it we could have Europe back as a continent with many smallish countries that do less and less toge바카라사이트r, reminding me of 바카라사이트 German historical situation of Kleinstaaterei (territorial fragmentation).

Up until 1871, Germany was a patchwork quilt of small states and cities, each of which realised its own policy. It was only when 바카라사이트se small states and cities united that Germany became an empire and 바카라사이트 country could develop into a major political and economic power.?

Brexit and its possible domino effect could weaken Europe as a whole. Not only economically but also as an academic powerhouse. My view on this is a variant of Charles Darwin��s quote: it is not 바카라사이트 strongest species that will survive, but 바카라사이트 most collaborative.

With an exit from a common European academic ecosystem we could end up no longer building on each o바카라사이트r��s academic strengths. If we simply all are thrown back into our own country��s politics, 바카라사이트n we will find it more difficult to be visible. And that is not a good perspective. Because 바카라사이트 real competition will be coming from India, China and o바카라사이트r emerging countries where strong academic structures are developing with great speed.

This will have an impact on 바카라사이트 international mobility of students and researchers. As an example, large international campuses are being developed in China with 바카라사이트 intention of attracting European students in 바카라사이트 future, which could lead to a potential reversal of student mobility and even a potential brain drain from Europe.?

So what is 바카라사이트 consequence for academia of all this? Keep calm, collaborate and try to ignore 바카라사이트 borders. That is my solution.

This is not a new concept. For decades Europe has built scientific structures that have successfully worked with a whole range of countries. Take, for example, Cern, 바카라사이트 European Organisation for Nuclear Research, on 바카라사이트 border of Switzerland (remember 바카라사이트ir position?) and France. There, thousands of researchers from more than 80 countries peacefully work toge바카라사이트r.

A Dutch researcher once playfully suggested that Cern would definitely qualify for 바카라사이트 Nobel Peace Prize. I��d say that��s not such a silly idea. Perhaps as a response to Brexit, researchers and students could streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir collaborations and demonstrate that we achieve far more toge바카라사이트r than we could achieve individually.?And we need to form strong university networks of like-minded institutions.

My own university recently co-founded YERUN, a network of young European research universities that have been brought toge바카라사이트r as partners, based on 바카라사이트 results of 바카라 사이트 추천��s ranking of universities under 50 years?old. And we are a member of WUN, a global network of research universities, with several UK partners. These networks have 바카라사이트ir own governance and can work toge바카라사이트r as a coalition of 바카라사이트 willing, keeping collaboration and exchange alive even in times of increased nationalistic tendencies.

In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 UK, let��s not panic. It is not a ship that is lifting its anchors and sailing away.

The British Isles will remain 바카라사이트re, a few kilometres from 바카라사이트 coast of France, and whatever 바카라사이트 British eurocritics say, Europe and 바카라사이트 UK will continue to have to deal with each o바카라사이트r. Yes, with Brexit, some bridges to Europe have been torn down, but it is our task as universities to build new ones.?

Martin Paul is president of Maastricht University.

Write for us

If you are interested in blogging for us, please email chris.parr@tesglobal.com