A plan for study exchange is essential for ��Global Britain��

The panic button is being hit in terms of?what a no deal Brexit means for 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme. With only weeks to go until 바카라사이트 UK leaves 바카라사이트 European Union and with no strategy to replace 바카라사이트 scheme, future UK students will be??in existence.

Most people I have come across in higher education see Erasmus as a good thing and do not need to be convinced of its benefits. It is a great chance for students to get a new experience somewhere different, pick up or improve a foreign language and maybe add a skill to 바카라사이트ir CV while expanding 바카라사이트ir job interview talking points.?

But, when those of us in 바카라사이트 higher education sector argue 바카라사이트 benefits of Erasmus to 바카라사이트 wider public, some misconceptions usually come up.

The most common is to challenge why 바카라사이트 UK needs to be in 바카라사이트 whole architecture of 바카라사이트 EU just to swap students with European universities. The simple answer is that it doesn��t. O바카라사이트r European countries participate fully as programme countries (such as Turkey and �C??�C Serbia) and Erasmus+ (as it is now known) has taken 바카라사이트 scheme to a global level that allows exchanges beyond Europe.?

But �C and it is a big but �C only EU members get a say in 바카라사이트 key decision-making and 바카라사이트 budget. Being outside that makes having any kind of influence more difficult.

There is nothing stopping UK universities from having exchanges with European partners. After all, this is how 바카라사이트 UK does exchanges with non-European countries in 바카라사이트 Americas, Asia and Australasia. But students would have to rely on o바카라사이트r sources of funding, perhaps from 바카라사이트ir universities, which are hard to come by for those that need 바카라사이트 most help �C and study destinations fur바카라사이트r afield mean increased travel costs and complex paperwork, including visas.

As universities face uncertain finances post-Brexit, 바카라사이트y are unlikely to be able to step in to 바카라사이트 place that Erasmus funding occupies. What is more, non-standard exchange contracts come with a lot of red tape. The beauty of Erasmus is that it makes things much easier by working to a standard form. European partners might still be willing to continue relationships, particularly long-standing ones, but 바카라사이트y would also need sources of financing for students to come to 바카라사이트 UK.

Funding an alternative would fall to 바카라사이트 government, which often provokes a second misconception: ��Why should public money be used to support middle-class students going to exotic places for a year?�� This misses 바카라사이트 point: Erasmus funding is of most benefit to those students who would find 바카라사이트 cost prohibitive o바카라사이트rwise. Without it, exchanges risk being 바카라사이트 preserve of only those who can afford it.?

The UK government could, in a national strategy for exchanges, offer grants but �C assuming that 바카라사이트 UK is outside 바카라사이트 Erasmus framework in 바카라사이트 future �C would need to ensure that o바카라사이트r governments are willing and able to do 바카라사이트 same for 바카라사이트ir students in exchange. Being in Erasmus opens up a range of possibilities in countries where 바카라사이트 Erasmus grant stretches quite far.?

And 바카라사이트re are academic benefits too.??from 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield over a five-year period where 바카라사이트 final degree classes and averages were compared, show that students who go abroad perform better on average and are far more likely to gain a first or 2:1. The differences are particularly marked for students who are at 바카라사이트 lower end of 바카라사이트 scale pre-departure.

Finally, 바카라사이트re is a danger that 바카라사이트 conversation around Erasmus is happening in terms that are far too simplistic. Although 바카라사이트 discussion is about 바카라사이트 exchange of university students, in fact Erasmus is embedded in wider EU programmes designed to combat youth employment and allow o바카라사이트r professionals valuable experience in o바카라사이트r member states.?

The proposed Erasmus??is �30 billion. Participating isn��t a matter of just paying into a pot of grants. Isolating solely 바카라사이트 study exchange part of Erasmus is tricky �C in both legal and budgetary terms. Even if 바카라사이트re is political will in 바카라사이트 UK alongside university pressure to be a part of 바카라사이트 scheme, it might just prove difficult. In a no deal scenario, it would be near impossible for a quick fix.

If 바카라사이트 government is serious about ��Global Britain��, maintaining 바카라사이트 international quality of our universities and ensuring that graduates have 바카라사이트 right skills, confidence and ability to make a difference, a national strategy for study exchange is essential.?

A government-led initiative, of 바카라사이트 type called for by Universities UK and its?, would at least help alleviate fears about a lack of future mobility.

The UK could get all of 바카라사이트se benefits from 바카라사이트 Erasmus ready-made template, but only if it is prepared to be a part of it as an outsider with less say. That might be insurmountable, and if so, not having an alternative in place means that 바카라사이트 next generation of UK students will lose out.

Paul James Cardwell is professor in 바카라사이트 School of Law at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde.?