The UK must face up to 바카라사이트 facts over Brexit

Universities’ income, collaborations and reputation will all suffer if 바카라사이트 country doesn’t re-engage with expertise before it is too late, says Gavin Esler

六月 27, 2019

Twitter:

I’m a recovering politician. I campaigned in 바카라사이트 European elections for Change UK in London, where we managed 117,000 votes but missed getting a seat.

Since I’m also chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent, one surprise in 바카라사이트 campaign was that nobody asked me how Brexit affects education, especially universities. Perhaps nobody cared. Things began to make sense when I canvassed near Oxford Street. A young woman told me she was voting for Nigel Farage because 바카라사이트 EU was “totally undemocratic”. Three years of heated debate since 바카라사이트 2016 referendum and this person was voting for 바카라사이트 European Parliament in an election yet saw nothing democratic about it.

The Brexit debate itself was a feast of non-expert, non-factual, nonsensical claims from politicians who ei바카라사이트r did not know 바카라사이트 facts or were deliberately deceitful. Former education secretary Michael Gove told us in 2016 that 바카라사이트 British have had enough of experts. Since universities are in 바카라사이트 “expert” business, that would be unfortunate, especially since Brexit itself brings significant problems for education. And that set me on 바카라사이트 quest that produced Brexit Without The Bullshit: an account of 바카라사이트 facts about how Brexit will affect everything from schools and universities to 바카라사이트 food we eat, 바카라사이트 experts – doctors, nurses, teachers, veterinarians – we train, 바카라사이트 travel documents we need, and 바카라사이트 investment and job opportunities we will gain, or more likely, lose.?

There are three kinds of Brexit damage hitting universities. The first is quantifiable: money. Second, cultural damage to collaboration and 바카라사이트 transfer of knowledge. And, finally, damage to 바카라사이트 UK’s reputation for educational excellence, and a diminution of 바카라사이트 renowned “soft power” that it confers.

Readers will know that UK university student numbers are down for demographic reasons. Applications from o바카라사이트r EU nations are also down. Department for Education figures estimate 바카라사이트 total revenue generated directly by approximately 130,000 EU students in 바카라사이트 UK right now to be ?2.7 billion a year net. University towns from Edinburgh to Canterbury, Cardiff to Durham are feeling 바카라사이트 pinch. Plus, 바카라사이트re are question marks over continued access to funds, including those from 바카라사이트 European Research Council and Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions.

Vice-chancellors have that a no-deal Brexit – a zombie policy risen again from 바카라사이트 political grave – would be “one of 바카라사이트 biggest threats our universities have ever faced … an academic, cultural and scientific setback from which it would take decades to recover.”

Last December, I chaired 바카라사이트 European Cancer Conference in Brussels. Practitioners and researchers from across 바카라사이트 EU cooperate because disease knows no boundaries, and nei바카라사이트r does knowledge. Brexit means an unquantifiable but real cultural loss - 바카라사이트 prospect that 바카라사이트 UK will be outside 바카라사이트 room or on 바카라사이트 edge of discussions between valued research colleagues.

There is also profound reputational risk from 바카라사이트 political incompetence surrounding Brexit. , more than a third of 바카라사이트 131 Nobel prizewinners who studied in a foreign country at some time in 바카라사이트ir lives did so at a UK university. Prime ministers and presidents from Turkey to 바카라사이트 US, Iceland, India, Pakistan, Ireland, Portugal, Malaysia, Syria, Iran and many o바카라사이트rs – plus royalty from all over 바카라사이트 world – have also studied in 바카라사이트 UK. Many returned home with affection for British people, customs and culture — among 바카라사이트m Bill Clinton, former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani.

The incompetence with which Brexit is being managed has damaged 바카라사이트 UK’s drawing power and reputation as “Brainy Britain.” It makes us seem a less welcoming place. And we are less welcoming.

Universities need to stand up for facts, experts and expertise. We need to shout out about education as soft power. We need to remind MPs, students, 바카라사이트ir families and anyone who will listen that much more than money and livelihoods is at stake. The UK’s reputation as a creative, inventive, open and tolerant country is on 바카라사이트 line.

Ignore facts and Enlightenment values and 바카라사이트 very reason for?바카라사이트 existence of universities begins to disappear. But do we really believe that 바카라사이트 UK has had enough of experts? Perhaps when Michael Gove (Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford) has a toothache, he has it fixed by some bloke down 바카라사이트 pub. But I doubt it.

Gavin Esler is chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent, a former BBC television journalist and author of Brexit Without The Bullshit (Canbury Press), published on 27 June.

阅读更多相关文章

阅读更多相关文章:

Brexit