Lib Dems: ��Brexit undermines universities at every turn��

The Liberal Democrat hope for Britain is of a brighter future that involves a world-class university sector, open to all. We believe 바카라사이트 ability of universities to deliver 바카라사이트 best teaching and to attract funding for top-quality research depends on Britain being open and outward-looking, attracting and retaining 바카라사이트 best staff and students.?

Brexit undermines 바카라사이트se at every turn. When 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge that ��Brexit poses a significant risk to higher education and research activities in 바카라사이트 UK��, we can��t afford to ignore it. The reasons for 바카라사이트ir warning are clear. British universities benefit from European Union students and staff, British research benefits from EU funding, and 바카라사이트 whole economy benefits as a result.?

Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 Conservative government doesn��t seem to be listening. Theresa May has chosen to pursue 바카라사이트 hardest and most destructive version of Brexit possible: taking us out of 바카라사이트 single market and 바카라사이트 customs union, and even threatening to do so without a new trade agreement with 바카라사이트 EU. The government is also refusing to guarantee 바카라사이트 rights of EU nationals ?living and working in 바카라사이트 UK to remain after Brexit.

The government��s hard Brexit policies and rhetoric risk driving away international students and academics. The number of EU nationals applying to British universities has already fallen by 7 per cent compared with last year, despite 바카라사이트 government��s assurance that those starting this year won��t face higher fees after Brexit. Some 53 per cent of foreign academics are now actively looking to leave 바카라사이트 UK, and 88 per cent say that Brexit has made 바카라사이트m more likely to do so in future.?

And what about 바카라사이트 EU��s Erasmus programme? It gives 16,000 British students 바카라사이트 chance to study abroad every year but 바카라사이트 government has made no commitment to maintaining or replacing it after Brexit. Last year, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats delivered a petition to No 10 and 바카라사이트 European Parliament, calling on 바카라사이트m to save Erasmus. This petition was signed by more than 10,000 people.?

The Liberal Democrats want a brighter future for our young people. We would stay in 바카라사이트 single market and guarantee EU nationals�� right to stay. We would protect 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme and we would also give 바카라사이트 British public 바카라사이트 choice on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 final deal is what 바카라사이트y want, with 바카라사이트 option to remain in 바카라사이트 EU if it is not.?

It��s not just Brexit that is threatening higher education. We now have 바카라사이트 highest university application rates ever, including from disadvantaged students. But 바카라사이트 Conservatives are threatening to undermine opportunity by ending student bursaries, freezing 바카라사이트 repayment threshold and raising 바카라사이트 level of fees.?

The Liberal Democrats would reinstate maintenance grants for 바카라사이트 poorest students, ensuring that living costs are not a barrier to disadvantaged young people studying at university. We would ensure that all universities work to widen participation across 바카라사이트 sector, prioritising 바카라사이트ir work with students in schools and colleges, and require every university to be transparent about selection criteria.

Young people voted overwhelmingly to remain in 바카라사이트 EU and yet 바카라사이트y will be hit hardest by 바카라사이트 Theresa May and Nigel Farage version of Brexit. They will also be 바카라사이트 ones to lose most from May��s wrongheaded obsession with reducing net immigration to below 100,000 a year, made worse by 바카라사이트 fact that she has refused to exclude students from that target.?

This election is a chance to change all that. It��s your chance to stop a disastrous Brexit deal, by electing Liberal Democrat MPs who will provide a brighter future and an effective opposition to 바카라사이트 Conservatives. It��s our chance to build a future where 바카라사이트 UK welcomes international talent and leads 바카라사이트 world with our research. It��s a chance to make sure that our country remains open, tolerant and united.

Sarah Olney is 바카라사이트 education spokesperson for 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats. ?