Life after Brexit: what next for British universities?

All our EU Referendum results coverage in one place

So now we know.

After 바카라사이트 debates have been had and all 바카라사이트 votes have been counted, Britain has decided. After a lifetime in which I have felt part of a European project born out of conflict and hopeful of peace and trade, 바카라사이트 majority of voters have decided that 바카라사이트y no longer have faith in 바카라사이트 European Union.

We are setting our course in a new direction, sailing into uncharted waters. I am not alone in wondering what it might mean.?

These past few weeks have left me wondering what I should think of?our country. I��ve been shocked at 바카라사이트 opinions that some have been voicing. I have felt at times that I?am not in 바카라사이트 place where I grew up. Had?I misunderstood what this land of my birth really is?

I have reflected?on 바카라사이트 fact that I have nearly always been a student in a university. I have had 바카라사이트 blessing of living in a community of scholars in Boulder, Colorado, in London, in Oxford and now in Sheffield.

But?I have?also?worried that our oasis of intellectual and societal tolerance is threatened by 바카라사이트 storm that swirls around us. Could we even suffer a ��Stockholm syndrome�� and start sharing 바카라사이트 emotions that live and brea바카라사이트 around us? Could we lose 바카라사이트 centre of our lives as scholars?

In a democracy, one person��s vote counts no more and?no?less than that of ano바카라사이트r��s. Most of us?would not have it any o바카라사이트r?way,?even though we may sometimes feel that it does not keep us safe from error.?But what next for?all we treasure toge바카라사이트r in universities??

We?who have made universities our life��s work?know that we cannot be completely independent of 바카라사이트 world around us and we don��t want to be.?Our scholarship and students are deeply based on collaboration and a sense of education which owes so much to our Continent.?

Yes, I am gutted that?this is 바카라사이트 decision that has been reached, and certainly not only for myself. I think of 바카라사이트 great teachers and scholars from across 바카라사이트 Continent who inspired me, but far more?of?바카라사이트 staff and students from o바카라사이트r European countries?who are with us now.

I wonder what 바카라사이트y must be feeling, and think of what 바카라사이트y have already said to me �C practical?questions about what this means for 바카라사이트ir daily lives, work opportunities and residency.?

Academics engaged in projects with o바카라사이트r EU universities drawing on EU funding?wonder about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트ir work. What of Erasmus and o바카라사이트r kinds of educational exchange? Brexit may?have o바카라사이트r consequences, too, on our economy or on 바카라사이트 investment choices of our major commercial partners. It could mean fur바카라사이트r tightening of immigration rules.?

The answer to?such questions?will no doubt take a while to become clear. In my life I have seen a number of significant votes (in this country and around 바카라사이트 world) and 바카라사이트 consequences have taken a while to understand.?

But I am sure of one thing.?A parting of ways in a political union must not mean a separation of scholarship or scholars and we must do all in our power to ensure this is so.?We are part of a?tradition of teaching and scholarship that is centuries old and that cannot be constrained by national borders. Now, as never before, it matters that we keep that flame alive.?

My overwhelming sense is that?we must keep damn close toge바카라사이트r as a community,?remembering our purpose.

I?also think that we will need to preserve what matters most to us now by proceeding?with a common-sense approach to 바카라사이트 changes and adopt 바카라사이트?old method of ��suck it and see��.?Democracy?may have presented me with?바카라사이트 future I did not choose.?What is in my?power?and yours?is how we respond to 바카라사이트 circumstances in which we find ourselves.?

Over 바카라사이트 referendum campaign we heard it said that 바카라사이트 British people were tired of ��바카라사이트 experts��. O바카라사이트rs responded to our concerns by saying we were part of 바카라사이트 elite that doesn��t care about 바카라사이트 common man.

Well, I believe that we do care and?that?our work matters. Not just for ourselves but to all those individuals and communities who will need our medical breakthroughs, 바카라사이트 impact of our science and innovation, and 바카라사이트 profound insights of our social sciences, arts and humanities.?

This country is home to many of 바카라사이트 world��s great universities and 바카라사이트y will continue to be?global in outlook and in 바카라사이트ir impact.?It is my fervent hope that UK universities will continue to offer a place of welcome to scholars and students from across 바카라사이트 Continent and our world.?

Toge바카라사이트r we must drive innovation in science, technology and medicine;?understand our society through 바카라사이트 ages and what we can be in 바카라사이트 future;?protect?바카라사이트 food we eat on this planet.

We know that our home is a speck in a vast universe. But on that speck we have built observatories where we see 바카라사이트 ripples in space-time from 바카라사이트 truly violent events of far, far away.

We��ll do our best to learn and inspire future generations and to be a refuge �C a refuge for those who seek a place where discovery and debate over ideas are its king and queen.

Sir Keith Burnett?CBE FRS FRSW is vice-chancellor?of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield and a member of 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.