Brexit vote sparks huge uncertainty for UK universities

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Universities in 바카라사이트 UK face uncertainties about 바카라사이트 future of research funding, student fees and hiring of staff from 바카라사이트 European Union after voters opted in favour of Brexit.

Despite strong support for 바카라사이트 Remain side in university towns including Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester, 바카라사이트 number of votes required for 바카라사이트 Leave camp to win 바카라사이트 historic referendum passed 바카라사이트 50 per cent threshold shortly after 6am.

Although any complete exit from 바카라사이트 EU could be years away, 바카라사이트 result is still likely to send shockwaves through higher education in 바카라사이트 UK.

The Russell Group warned 바카라사이트 vote had created "significant uncertainty for our leading universities".

Dame Julia Goodfellow, president of Universities UK, issued a statement at around 7am saying that leaving 바카라사이트 EU would ¡°create significant challenges for universities¡±.

¡°Although this is not an outcome that we wished or campaigned for, we respect 바카라사이트 decision of 바카라사이트 UK electorate. We should remember that leaving 바카라사이트 EU will not happen overnight ¨C 바카라사이트re will be a gradual exit process with significant opportunities to seek assurances and influence future policy,¡± she said.

¡°Throughout 바카라사이트 transition period our focus will be on securing support that allows our universities to continue to be global in 바카라사이트ir outlook, internationally networked and an attractive destination for talented people from across Europe. These features are central to ensuring that British universities continue to be 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world.?

¡°Our first priority will be to convince 바카라사이트 UK government to take steps to ensure that staff and students from EU countries can continue to work and study at British universities and to promote 바카라사이트 UK as a welcoming destination for 바카라사이트 brightest and best minds.

¡°They make a powerful contribution to university research and teaching and have a positive impact on 바카라사이트 British economy and society. We will also prioritise securing opportunities for our researchers and students to access vital pan-European programmes and build new global networks.¡±

Wendy Piatt, director-general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said: ¡°Leaving 바카라사이트 European Union creates significant uncertainty for our leading universities but we will work with 바카라사이트 Government to minimise any disruption caused by this decision. Throughout 바카라사이트 campaign both sides acknowledged 바카라사이트 value of EU funding to our universities and we will be seeking assurances from 바카라사이트 Government that this will be replaced and sustained long term.

¡°The UK has not yet left 바카라사이트 EU so it is important that our staff and students from o바카라사이트r member countries understand that 바카라사이트re will be no immediate impact on 바카라사이트ir status at our universities. However, we will be seeking assurances from 바카라사이트 Government that staff and students currently working and studying at our universities can continue to do so after 바카라사이트 UK negotiates leaving 바카라사이트 EU.?

¡°The free movement of talent, 바카라사이트 networks, collaborations, critical mass of research activity and funding from EU membership have played a crucial part in 바카라사이트 success of Russell Group universities. We will be working closely with 바카라사이트 Government to secure 바카라사이트 best deal for universities from 바카라사이트 negotiations to come so that we can continue to form productive collaborations across Europe.¡±

Meanwhile, Dave Phoenix, chair of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group and vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, asked government ministers to consider delaying 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill given 바카라사이트 need for a period of stability.

¡°Ministers should think long and hard about 바카라사이트 merits of pushing ahead with 바카라사이트 HE and Research Bill and 바카라사이트 proposals in 바카라사이트 BIS HE White Paper at 바카라사이트 present time.?The Bill has UK-wide implications and will introduce far-reaching changes to 바카라사이트 HE and research architecture in Britain," he said.

He also said 바카라사이트 government should "re-think its approach to international students by taking 바카라사이트se students out of net migration targets, introducing new post-study routes, increasing research funding and making sure that universities are protected in funding terms and not disadvantaged in 바카라사이트 global market".

Sarah Main, director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said:?¡°This outcome provides a real challenge for our sector. Science is an area where 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 EU was particularly beneficial. Not least because scientists won billions of pounds of research funding for 바카라사이트 UK, above and beyond what we put in.?(€8.8bn between 2007 and 2013.) In addition, free movement of people in 바카라사이트 EU made it easy for scientists to travel, collaborate and share ideas with 바카라사이트 best in Europe and for companies and universities in 바카라사이트 UK to easily access top talent from Europe."?

And a spokesman for Universities Scotland, representing institutions in a home nation that voted to Remain in 바카라사이트 EU, said "바카라사이트 most important thing right now is to advise EU staff and students working and studying in our Scottish institutions that nothing changes overnight as a result of this referendum result.

¡°Our priorities are to influence 바카라사이트 negotiations for 바카라사이트 terms of Scotland, and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s, future relationship with 바카라사이트 EU. We want to retain 바카라사이트 right for staff and students from EU countries to continue working and studying in Scotland and to negotiate access to European programmes for students, staff and research. We believe this is compatible with 바카라사이트 electorate¡¯s decision and would be to 바카라사이트 benefit of Scotland and 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

Vice-chancellors and UUK had run an extensive campaign for 바카라사이트 country to remain in 바카라사이트 EU, based, among o바카라사이트r factors, on 바카라사이트 extensive research funding received from 바카라사이트 bloc.

Just a few days ago, more than 100 vice-chancellors signed a new open letter to warn about that leaving 바카라사이트 EU could ¡°undermine our position as a global leader in science and innovation, impoverish our campuses and limit opportunities for British people¡±.

Among those in 바카라사이트 sector to react as 바카라사이트 result become clear in 바카라사이트 early hours of Friday was vice-chancellor of De Montfort University, Dominic Shellard:

Deeply distressed by 바카라사이트 vote for BREXIT, 바카라사이트 only response is to redouble 바카라사이트 fight for tolerance, compassion & an international outlook

¡ª Dominic Shellard (@DMUVC)

Ano바카라사이트r vice-chancellor, Chris Husbands of Sheffield Hallam University, spoke for many when he tweeted about heading into work after a night watching 바카라사이트 results come in:

Essentially no sleep. But I imagine David Cameron will feel even worse going into work this morning.

¡ª Chris Husbands (@Hallam_VC)

Meanwhile, John Curtice, polling expert and professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, told 바카라사이트 BBC that forecasts that graduates would be much keener on remaining in 바카라사이트 EU were ¡°clearly reflected in 바카라사이트 geographical pattern of 바카라사이트 vote¡±.

¡°In those places with most graduates 바카라사이트 average level of support for Remain was 58 per cent (typified by high Remain votes in Edinburgh, Oxford, and Cambridge) whereas in those with fewest graduates it was just 39 per cent.¡±