Brexit UK ¡®risks falling to 20th in world in HE and research¡¯

Post-Brexit Britain?could decline from ¡°second in 바카라사이트 world to 20th¡± in higher education and research if 바카라사이트 inflow of academic talent is restricted and 바카라사이트 nation exits 바카라사이트 European Union research frameworks, UCL president Michael Arthur has warned MPs.

Professor Arthur, who leads on Brexit issues for 바카라사이트 Russell Group, made 바카라사이트 comment at a hearing on science and research issues held by 바카라사이트 House of Commons Exiting 바카라사이트 EU Committee.?

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering has released figures that it obtained under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act, showing that 바카라사이트 Home Office refused?sponsorship applications for more than 6,000 skilled non-EU workers with job offers in a four-month period, after immigration caps were hit.

Of 6,080 total refusals for sponsorship of non-EU skilled worker applicants spread across 바카라사이트 months between December 2017 and March 2018, 3,500 were for engineering, IT, technology, STEM teaching and medical roles ¨C some of which would have been for university roles ¨C according to CaSE.

Witnesses giving evidence to 바카라사이트 Exiting 바카라사이트 EU committee ¨C also including Sarah Main, executive director of CaSE, and Beth Thompson, head of policy at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust ¨C stressed 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 UK taking part in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Framework Programme 9 as an associated country, while also warning against imposing a visa system for EU researchers seeking to enter 바카라사이트 UK after Brexit.

A White Paper on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s post-Brexit immigration system for EU nationals is expected before Parliament¡¯s summer recess.

Professor Arthur told 바카라사이트 committee that, if 바카라사이트 UK was not part of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programmes in future, it would be in ¡°significant difficulty¡± in terms of international excellence, adding that European Research Council grants (part of framework programmes) were ¡°critical¡± in attracting 바카라사이트 best academic talent.

Asked by Labour MP Emma Reynolds what 바카라사이트 impact of applying 바카라사이트 current visa system to EU nationals would be, Professor Arthur told 바카라사이트 committee: ¡°In 20 years¡¯ time, instead of being second in 바카라사이트 world to 바카라사이트 United States of America, I¡¯m worried that we will be 20th or so...and part [of 바카라사이트 reason] will be this insidious onset of inability to recruit 바카라사이트 world's greatest talent.¡±

Richard Graham, a Conservative member of 바카라사이트 committee, later challenged Professor Arthur on 바카라사이트 comment, inviting him to concede that 바카라사이트re was ¡°a bit of hyperbole in that¡± and arguing that 바카라사이트 future of UK higher education depended on its quality ¡°as much as it does on Brexit, immigration¡±.

But Professor Arthur replied: ¡°The honest answer is none of us know what 바카라사이트 impact will be of a significant exit from EU research and funding. We're worried about it and we need to express it in ways that?get people to understand 바카라사이트 magnitude of change that could occur.¡±

Following 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 skilled worker sponsorship refusal figures by CaSE, 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Committee of MPs said that it ¡°intends to develop its own proposals for immigration and visa rules for scientists¡±.

This came after?바카라사이트 government¡¯s rejection of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s call for 바카라사이트 conclusions of 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee relating to science to be brought forward to form part of an ¡°early deal¡± for science and innovation.

CaSE argues that 바카라사이트 government should exempt roles on 바카라사이트 Shortage Occupation List and PhD level roles from 바카라사이트 Tier 2 cap, and that 바카라사이트re should be no ¡°arbitrary cap¡± on skilled workers in any future system.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com