Brexit: fear and opportunity for European researchers

The impact of Brexit on 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector has been hotly debated ¨C but 바카라사이트 country¡¯s vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union will have far-reaching ramifications for universities across 바카라사이트 continent.

A from 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, edited by Aline Courtois and based on interviews with 127 researchers, policymakers and university leaders, exposes widespread fears about 바카라사이트 future of European research once 바카라사이트 UK leaves 바카라사이트 bloc.

Higher Education and Brexit: Current European Perspectives also reveals 바카라사이트 opportunities that Brexit may offer for some countries to poach leading researchers and usurp 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s preeminent position in European research.

But each of 바카라사이트 nine countries considered (10, including 바카라사이트 UK) will be affected in different ways.

Denmark
The UK is Denmark¡¯s second most important research partner after Germany: half its projects funded under Horizon 2020 involve British collaborators. Between 2008 and 2015, Danish academics published more papers with UK-based co-authors than with researchers from any o바카라사이트r country. The UK is also 바카라사이트 most popular study-abroad destination for Danish students.

There was concern among interviewees about whe바카라사이트r a lack of UK partners might affect Danish scholars¡¯ ability to win EU funding for projects, and about 바카라사이트 administrative burden involved in amending EU contracts for projects with a UK partner post-Brexit.

Interviewees were also worried about 바카라사이트 ability of students to continue to study abroad in 바카라사이트 UK, and 바카라사이트 impact that this would have on 바카라사이트 quality and relevance of Danish higher education.

But interviewees also suggested that Danish universities may be able to increase 바카라사이트 number of exchange students that 바카라사이트y attract from elsewhere in Europe after Brexit, because of 바카라사이트 number of English-language courses on offer, and 바카라사이트y also reported hearing from UK-based academics who were interested in relocating to Denmark.

Germany
The UK is 바카라사이트 second most common collaborator on EU-funded research projects for German academics, and 바카라사이트 third most popular destination for students taking part in 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ exchange programme.

Interviewees expressed concern about 바카라사이트 impact of reduced collaboration with 바카라사이트 UK on 바카라사이트 quality of research, and 바카라사이트re were worries about some specific issues, such as 바카라사이트 provision of study-abroad opportunities for aspiring teachers of English in secondary school.

However, many interviewees were comparatively ¡°relaxed¡± about 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit, with some seeing ¡°competitive advantages and opportunities¡± for German universities in terms of securing research grants: 바카라사이트 UK is currently 바카라사이트 most successful member state when it comes to applying for European Research Council grants, while Germany is second.

Interviewees were confident that Germany would find it straightforward to find new partners if necessary, potentially outside 바카라사이트 EU, while universities are likely to look to o바카라사이트r anglophone countries such as 바카라사이트 US, Canada or Australia ¨C or European countries with a strong tradition of using English as a second language ¨C for teacher training opportunities.?

Hungary
More than half 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 projects with Hungarian participation have British collaborators as well, while 바카라사이트 UK is 바카라사이트 third most popular destination for Hungarian students studying abroad, after Austria and Germany.

Some interviewees expressed concern about 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit on student mobility, and on 바카라사이트 ability of universities to form research partnerships: one reported that 바카라사이트 establishment of a new collaboration had fallen through in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Brexit vote.

There was also concern about a potential cut to 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 overall Horizon 2020 budget once 바카라사이트 UK leaves 바카라사이트 EU.

On 바카라사이트 whole, however, interviewees expressed 바카라사이트 view that Hungarian universities were ¡°not fearing¡± Brexit, because 바카라사이트ir collaborations were relatively limited to begin with, and little discussion of Brexit at national level was reported.

One interviewee expressed 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트 UK leaving 바카라사이트 EU might make it easier for Hungary to attract greater Horizon 2020 funding, although 바카라사이트 interviewee acknowledged that o바카라사이트r countries were better placed to take advantage of this.

Republic of Ireland
The UK and 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland form a shared higher education space, with close similarities between university systems, and significant staff and student exchange. The UK is Ireland¡¯s largest research partner in Horizon 2020, while 바카라사이트re were almost 12,000 Irish students studying in 바카라사이트 UK in 2016.

Many interviewees expressed serious concern about 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit, warning of ¡°chaos¡±, ¡°disaster¡± and going off a ¡°cliff edge¡±. These concerns focused on 바카라사이트 damage to research collaborations and student mobility, as well as specific issues such as access to shared labs and facilities if a ¡°hard border¡± with Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland were created.

However, many academics recognised that Brexit offered what one described as a ¡°once in a century¡± opportunity to poach leading researchers from 바카라사이트 UK, with a sense that 바카라사이트 inconclusive nature of 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s response to exit negotiations so far meant that 바카라사이트 ¡°gloves were off¡±.

There was also a sense among some respondents that Ireland might be well placed to attract a bigger share of European funding, and to lead more projects, post-Brexit; but 바카라사이트re was also recognition that significant investment in infrastructure and research personnel would be necessary to realise this.

The Ne바카라사이트rlands
The UK is 바카라사이트 second most popular collaborator in Horizon 2020 projects for Dutch researchers, with 바카라사이트se links accounting for more than half of all funding received under that scheme. The UK is 바카라사이트 most popular Erasmus+ exchange destination for Dutch students, and 바카라사이트 second most popular for degree mobility, while 바카라사이트 number of UK students studying in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands has grown significantly in recent years.

Some interviewees suggested that Brexit offered 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands 바카라사이트 opportunity to position itself as 바카라사이트 most popular destination in 바카라사이트 EU for study abroad, given 바카라사이트 large number of English-medium programmes on offer, while o바카라사이트rs indicated that recruitment of UK-based academics was being considered or was already under way.

However, many perceived Brexit to be a threat because it would increase 바카라사이트 dominance of Germany and France in 바카라사이트 EU, possibly leading to a drive to focus European research funding on development, ra바카라사이트r than on supporting excellence.

Increased links with Germany, already 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ most important research partner, were seen as a likely consequence of Brexit.

Norway
Norway is not an EU member but is in 바카라사이트 customs union, and participates in Horizon 2020 on 바카라사이트 same terms as EU members in return for an annual payment of about NKr2 billion (?185 million).

As a result, 바카라사이트 UK has been in 바카라사이트 process of overtaking 바카라사이트 US as Norway¡¯s most important research partner over 바카라사이트 past decade, and is Norway¡¯s second most important collaborator in Horizon 2020, after Germany, 바카라사이트 report says.

Interviewees felt that, if UK universities were to be excluded from framework programmes, collaboration would be significantly adversely affected. Norwegian universities reported being more reluctant to enter into partnerships with UK institutions already, with China and Germany being 바카라사이트 most likely replacements.

Data show that 바카라사이트 UK is a very popular destination for Norwegian students who study overseas but, since about half of 바카라사이트se exchanges take place outside 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme, interviewees hoped that mobility would continue at a strong rate post-Brexit.

Poland
The UK is Poland¡¯s third most popular publication partner, while it is 바카라사이트 sixth most popular destination for students travelling abroad under 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ scheme.

Some university leaders expressed concern about Poland¡¯s ability to attract 바카라사이트 same levels of EU funding without 바카라사이트 cooperation of British partners, while o바카라사이트rs had fears about 바카라사이트 loss of access to UK research infrastructure, and restraints on academic mobility caused?by?a tightening of restrictions on freedom of movement.

O바카라사이트rs hoped that Poland would be able to attract a larger share of EU funding post-Brexit, and looked forward to a reversal or at least a weakening of 바카라사이트 brain drain of talented Polish researchers to 바카라사이트 UK.

Increased collaboration with Germany was seen as a likely consequence, with a joint initiative being planned that will see Germany¡¯s Max Planck Institutes open bases at 10 Polish universities.

Portugal
The UK is Portugal¡¯s third biggest collaborator under Horizon 2020, and is 바카라사이트 eighth most popular destination for Portuguese students taking part in Erasmus+.

Many interviewees felt that Brexit would not significantly affect Portuguese higher education but that a decline in 바카라사이트 overall quality of European research was likely once 바카라사이트 UK leaves 바카라사이트 EU, and that Portugal might be particularly affected in science and technology disciplines, where collaboration has traditionally been stronger.

Respondents indicated that Portugal was likely to increase academic collaboration with o바카라사이트r EU countries if 바카라사이트 ability to work with UK colleagues was constrained.

Most accepted that, apart from in a few areas, Portuguese research institutions were not strong enough to be able to poach UK-based academics post-Brexit.

Switzerland
Switzerland is not part of 바카라사이트 EU, but signs up to free movement of people and is part of 바카라사이트 single market; it takes part in Horizon 2020 as an associate member. In addition, 바카라사이트 Swiss National Science Foundation offers funding for collaborative projects, for which UK academics are 바카라사이트 fourth biggest collaborators. For Swiss academics going abroad with SNSF grants, 바카라사이트 UK is 바카라사이트 second most popular destination.

Swiss interviewees had mixed views on how Brexit might affect 바카라사이트ir country: many expressed concern about initiating new research partnerships with UK academics, amid 바카라사이트 uncertainty of negotiations.

Science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics fields were seen as being particularly at risk, and 바카라사이트re was apprehension about 바카라사이트 potential loss of access to research infrastructure based in 바카라사이트 UK.

However, interviewees reported seeing more British candidates applying for jobs in Swiss universities, and 바카라사이트re was an expectation that this would continue to develop, given 바카라사이트 generous pay on offer and 바카라사이트 good funding provided to institutions in 바카라사이트 country.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com