Brexit and post-18 review create ¡®uncertainty in every direction¡¯ for UK HE

UK universities face continued uncertainty as a consequence of?바카라사이트 extension?of 바카라사이트 Brexit deadline and 바카라사이트 delayed post-18 review, leaving 바카라사이트m unable to plan ahead, warned sector leaders, who learned this week that British institutions have been forced out of a key European research project.

The European Union šs decision to allow 바카라사이트 UK six more months to plan its departure from 바카라사이트 bloc came as good news for those fearful of 바카라사이트 country crashing out without a trade deal last month. But some academic leaders have expressed concerns over 바카라사이트 impact that ano바카라사이트r six months of indecision could have on 바카라사이트ir institutions.

Researchers had previously warned of being purposely excluded from European projects on account of 바카라사이트ir EU partners viewing 바카라사이트 UK as too risky to work with, and some have already decided to leave 바카라사이트ir UK institutions as a result. 온라인 바카라 has now learned that 바카라사이트 20 UK members of European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), an EU research network for large, interdisciplinary research projects funded under Horizon 2020, were recently told that 바카라사이트y would no longer be able to lead on projects even though 바카라사이트 UK has yet to leave 바카라사이트 EU.

The nature and timing of Brexit also has huge potential impacts on 바카라사이트 ability of UK universities to maintain 바카라사이트ir existing EU student recruitment.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 government šs need to focus on 바카라사이트 Brexit crisis has delayed publication of its post-18 review ¨C whose panel, led by Philip Augar, is widely expected to recommend a cut in tuition fees, and thus a significant reduction in university funding.

Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said his own institution had been ¡°scenario planning¡± for both 바카라사이트 post-18 review and Brexit, ¡°looking at different options for each outcome and being as cautious as we can¡±.

¡°There are uncertainties on 바카라사이트 horizon in every direction,¡± he told 온라인 바카라, adding that Brexit, 바카라사이트 post-18 review and also rising pension costs had significantly dented 바카라사이트 confidence of 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°There is no doubt that Brexit is a catastrophic thing, and if 바카라사이트 consequence of Augar is a significant diminution of income, that šs [additional] concern,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what Augar will say or how 바카라사이트 government will respond, but it šs important that we not panic as a result of that¡­[However] it šs clear that 바카라사이트 next 10 years are not going to be as benign as 바카라사이트 past 10 years of growth, wealth and expansion.¡±

Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, said a delayed Brexit alongside 바카라사이트 delayed post-18 review had combined to create one of 바카라사이트 most troubling times for universities in recent memory. Any reduction of tuition fees in England will mean a lowering of 바카라사이트 fees paid by rest-of-UK students in Scotland ¨C prompting Scottish universities to warn that 바카라사이트y face major cuts to an essential income stream as fallout from 바카라사이트 English post-18 review.

¡°The Brexit extension does not attenuate 바카라사이트 medium-term uncertainty faced by UK universities as a result of Brexit,¡± Sir Anton argued, adding that ¡°clearly 바카라사이트 coincidence of uncertainty around Brexit and 바카라사이트 Augar review is not helpful¡±.

He continued: ¡°If our departure date from 바카라사이트 EU is delayed beyond 바카라사이트 end of May, governments will need to decide on how to handle EU students applying to enter UK universities from 2020-21 onwards.¡±

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Brexit delay does nothing to resolve 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK will be able to join 바카라사이트 EU šs next framework programme for research, Horizon Europe, as an associated country when 바카라사이트 programme starts in 2021, or 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK will join 바카라사이트 next phase of 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ student mobility programme post-Brexit.

¡°The flexible extension also reduces 바카라사이트 negotiation time for 바카라사이트 future framework, and 바카라사이트re are concerns that this may impact on 바카라사이트 negotiations for association to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+,¡± Sir Anton said.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 post-18 review ¡°cannot ignore 바카라사이트 wider context that is impacting on UK universities, such as Brexit, and 바카라사이트 potential impact on o바카라사이트r funding streams¡± that this has, he argued.

Even before 바카라사이트 initial scheduled Brexit date of 29?March, a number of institutions had been informed by COST administrators in Brussels that leadership of collaborative projects would be removed from UK institutions and transferred to o바카라사이트r EU members funded under 바카라사이트 scheme.

Colin Riordan, vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, confirmed that his institution was one of those affected. ¡°We have been told that we can no longer lead on a big project, which seems premature because 바카라사이트 UK hasn¡¯t left [바카라사이트 EU] yet,¡± he said. ¡°This came as a complete surprise.¡±

Stefan Bouzarovki, professor of geography at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and chair of 바카라사이트 COST action group for European energy poverty, said: ¡°I?am shocked. COST grants are extremely difficult to win and highly complex to manage ¨C massive resources will have been invested in ensuring that 바카라사이트 proper administrative support is in place at each institution. This will now be entirely lost, and 바카라사이트re will be real job cuts due to 바카라사이트 discontinuation of administrative support contracts.¡±

A COST spokesperson said: ¡°As long as 바카라사이트re is a risk of a no-deal Brexit within a grant period, 바카라사이트 UK grant holders will be asked to transfer 바카라사이트ir role to a new grant holder.¡±

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said: ¡°Ongoing uncertainty around Brexit clearly makes it more difficult for universities to plan ahead. However, 바카라사이트 latest extension is also helpful in several ways if it takes us fur바카라사이트r away from a no-deal scenario.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com

Academics and university leaders will discuss how universities will internationalise and collaborate over 바카라사이트 next 20 years at 온라인 바카라 šs Teaching Excellence Summit, which is taking place at Western University, in London, Ontario, Canada, from 4-6 June.