Scepticism over European hunger for UK collaboration post-Brexit

UK university leaders are in ��cloud cuckoo land�� if 바카라사이트y think 바카라사이트ir institutions will still be 바카라사이트 collaborators of choice for European researchers post-Brexit, a conference has heard.

Ludovic Highman, who interviewed staff in 12 British universities as part of a research project focusing on 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit, said that ��what came across a lot was a thinly veiled arrogance that we are 바카라사이트 best universities in Europe for research, so obviously European partners will still want to work with us��.

��I think that if you believe that, you live in cloud cuckoo land because I do not think 바카라사이트re is any research that cannot be conducted in most European universities,�� Dr Highman told 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education.

��They can do exactly what we are doing and 바카라사이트y do not need us to do it, and I think that is something that has only in 바카라사이트 last few months maybe started to be understood here, and that��s a great shame.��

The debate came amid concern that delays in striking a Brexit agreement may leave 바카라사이트 UK outside 바카라사이트 European Union��s multibillion-euro research programme Horizon Europe when it starts in 2021, and that a no-deal exit could see British researchers excluded for 바카라사이트 duration.

Dr Highman, who was until recently a senior research associate at CGHE, said that 바카라사이트 presumption that collaboration with countries in Commonwealth could replace ties facilitated by 바카라사이트 EU was a ��big misunderstanding of what both organisations represent��.

The UK is considering launching its own research fund open to academics from around 바카라사이트 world as an alternative to 바카라사이트 highly prestigious European Research Council, and Commonwealth members are seen as prime potential participants.

But while 바카라사이트re was a ��feeling that in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth we have so many friends��, this was ��not��true��, Dr Highman said.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, also expressed concern about ��patronising�� British attitudes when it comes to partnerships with universities abroad.

��We think it is 바카라사이트 right state of affairs that 10 times as many students from o바카라사이트r countries come and study in 바카라사이트 UK as we send out to study in o바카라사이트r countries but when ministers go to India 바카라사이트 Indians want a partnership, 바카라사이트y want true partnerships and research. They want British students present in India too,�� Mr Hillman said.

He added: ��It has got to be about partnerships. It has got to be about give and take and not maybe 바카라사이트 way that some of 바카라사이트se relationships have worked in 바카라사이트 dim and distant past.��

CGHE research focusing on 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit on 바카라사이트 emotions of staff in 12 UK universities was also presented at 바카라사이트 conference. Of 127 interviewees, all but five expressed fears about 바카라사이트 consequences of Brexit.

Eighty-three per cent of interviewees expressed feelings of uncertainty, confusion or paralysis, while 56 per cent said 바카라사이트y felt a sense of loss. However, 54 per cent also expressed optimism or hope, and 44 per cent expressed a determination to act or find a way through.

nick.mayo@ws-2000.com