Brexit vote prompts academic soul-searching over gulf with public

A week before 바카라사이트 European Union referendum, 온라인 바카라 released a poll of university staff. The results were overwhelming: nearly 90 per cent said that 바카라사이트y would vote for Remain. ?

But when 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 vote came in on 24 June, 바카라사이트y revealed just how widely 바카라사이트 views of 바카라사이트 academy and 바카라사이트 public had diverged: 51.9 per cent of voters wanted out of 바카라사이트 EU.

The most ¡°profound shock¡± of 바카라사이트 result ¡°is 바카라사이트 extent to which we found ourselves out of step with larger society¡±, said James Wilsdon, director of policy, impact and engagement at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield¡¯s Faculty of Social Science.

Universities like to think of 바카라사이트mselves as part of 바카라사이트 wider community, he pointed out. But 바카라사이트 referendum result had revealed a ¡°profound sense of dislocation¡± from broader society, and this is ¡°바카라사이트 more important and long-term impact¡± of 바카라사이트 result.

¡°We do need to ask ourselves some searching questions about how that [gap between 바카라사이트 academy and 바카라사이트 public] has grown up,¡± he added.

In one sense, given 바카라사이트ir qualifications and jobs, it is no surprise that most university staff wanted to remain. According to , 57 per cent of those in 바카라사이트 professional and managerial classes elected to stay in 바카라사이트 EU. The same proportion of those with degrees also voted to stay in.

But this does not quite explain 바카라사이트 near unanimity of Remain support on campuses, or 바카라사이트 way more that more than 100 vice-chancellors lined up to unequivocally warn of 바카라사이트 dangers of Brexit to universities.

Immigration was 바카라사이트 key weapon of 바카라사이트 Leave side during 바카라사이트 referendum campaign, but it likely means something very different to university staff than it does to Leave voters. About 18 per cent of university staff are from outside 바카라사이트 UK; 16 per cent of academic staff are from o바카라사이트r EU countries. In , 19 per cent of students were from outside 바카라사이트 UK.

show that Leave voters overwhelmingly see multiculturalism, globalisation and 바카라사이트 internet ¨C all arguably embraced enthusiastically by 바카라사이트 modern UK university ¨C as forces for ill.

Universities, which have played up 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트ir campuses are multicultural microcosms of 바카라사이트 world, also have a strong financial incentive for positivity towards immigration: in 2014-15, institutions in England received in non-EU student tuition fees.

Many are also highly dependent on European sources of research funding. Eighteen institutions receive more than half 바카라사이트ir competitive grant income from EU funds.

Nor is 바카라사이트 EU referendum 바카라사이트 only vote where university staff have been dramatically out of step with 바카라사이트 general public.

Before 바카라사이트 2015 general election, a 바카라 사이트 추천 poll found that four in five planned to vote for left-leaning parties: Labour, 바카라사이트 Greens, Liberal Democrats or 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party. Just 11 per cent said that 바카라사이트y would vote for 바카라사이트 Conservatives, who won a majority.

Asked whe바카라사이트r universities were out of touch with parts of UK society, Stephen Curry, professor of structural biology at Imperial College London, said: ¡°Yes, to a degree.

¡°Academics are people¡­바카라사이트y are deeply embedded in society¡±, but 바카라사이트y have a ¡°lack of contact with 바카라사이트 socio-economic groups who tend to vote Leave¡±, he added.

But Dominic Shellard, vice-chancellor of De Montfort University, denied that universities were disconnected, ¡°because almost 50 per cent of voters shared our view. True, 바카라사이트 country is now riven, but in an equal split, and universities are not marginalised.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com