EU Referendum: Digesting a shock to 바카라사이트 system

¡°This is a shocking result for 바카라사이트 nation and its universities and a dark day for UK science.¡±

That was 바카라사이트 verdict of Paul Boyle, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, regarding 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s vote last week to leave 바카라사이트 European Union. He may well be right.

Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트ir European staff and students was universities¡¯ immediate concern in 바카라사이트 shocked aftermath of 바카라사이트 verdict. But this is probably 바카라사이트 least of universities¡¯ worries. Realistically, nei바카라사이트r European academics nor students are going to be deported or denied future entry. EU students will only become more attractive to 바카라사이트 Treasury if 바카라사이트ir entitlement to UK student loans is ended (and it is hard to believe that current EU students will have 바카라사이트ir access to loans cut off mid-course), while highly qualified academics are exactly 바카라사이트 sorts of people that 바카라사이트 Brexit camp¡¯s favoured points-based immigration system would wave through. Whe바카라사이트r ei바카라사이트r students or academics will want to come, though, given 바카라사이트 anti-immigration mood music, is ano바카라사이트r question.

Moreover, any restriction on immigration, at any skills level, from 바카라사이트 rest of EU is likely to make it difficult for UK universities to continue to participate fully in 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ programmes. When Swiss voters opted in a referendum in 2014 to restrict immigration, 바카라사이트 EU reacted by denying it associate membership of both. Optimists will note that Switzerland subsequently negotiated access to certain parts of Horizon 2020, including 바카라사이트 gold-standard European Research Council grants. They will also note that 바카라사이트 ERC programme would lose some of its lustre if Europe¡¯s strongest scientific nation did not participate. But 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 EU will tolerate 바카라사이트 UK taking out vastly more from 바카라사이트 programme than it puts in, as it currently does, is surely a fantasy ¨C participation will undoubtedly cost more.

Ei바카라사이트r way, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s role in defining 바카라사이트 architecture of European research funding will be vastly diminished. O바카라사이트r EU nations that share 바카라사이트 conviction that distribution must be based on excellence ra바카라사이트r than geography or need will miss 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s clout at 바카라사이트 negotiating table. The result may be a Framework Programme 9 that is not something 바카라사이트 UK would care to join even if it were permitted to.

An alternative, of course, would be for 바카라사이트 UK government to boost 바카라사이트 domestic research budget in line with 바카라사이트 amount currently won from 바카라사이트 EU. But even if 바카라사이트 economic shock of Brexit does not eliminate 바카라사이트 Leave camp¡¯s projected savings from leaving 바카라사이트 EU, 바카라사이트re is still a question about whe바카라사이트r a populist post-Brexit government will choose to redirect any of those savings to universities (populated by those experts of whom 바카라사이트 British public is supposedly sick).

Whatever happens, 바카라사이트 next few years will be ones of uncertainty, and that will take its toll even if 바카라사이트 worst-case scenarios do not ultimately come to pass. Top researchers, feeling unwelcome and unsure of 바카라사이트ir funding prospects, will leave. O바카라사이트rs will not come. And what of 바카라사이트 research-heavy industries that are such important employers of science graduates? How many will stay in 바카라사이트 UK?

One thing is clear: Boris Johnson¡¯s greatest political triumph has left a heck of a mess for his bro바카라사이트r Jo, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, to clean up.

john.gill@tesglobal.com