MPs back liberal visa regime to combat Brexit brain drain

The next UK government must move quickly to introduce a ¡°more liberal¡± visa system for highly skilled academics to prevent a flight of researchers after Brexit, according to a committee of MPs.

Highlighting how 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 European Union in 2019 was ¡°likely to lead to a significant ¡®brain drain¡¯ in talented staff¡±, 바카라사이트 published by 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Committee states that urgent reforms after 바카라사이트 general election on 8 June are needed to ¡°facilitate, ra바카라사이트r than inhibit, 바카라사이트 movement of people in and out of our universities¡±.

¡°O바카라사이트rwise, continued academic collaboration and 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s international competitiveness will be at risk,¡± adds 바카라사이트 study, which considered evidence from about 40 universities as well as numerous expert witnesses.

It follows fears raised in 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s evidence hearings that 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 32,000 or so non-UK EU nationals currently working in UK universities (about 16 per cent of all staff) would have failed to obtain a visa under 바카라사이트 Tier 2 (skilled worker) route, which has an annual cap of 20,700 and a minimum salary requirement of ?30,000.

Creating a simplified visa route for overseas academics must be a priority for any future administration, said Neil Carmichael, 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s chair, who called for a ¡°bold cross-government strategy to take advantage of 바카라사이트 global reach of our universities and ensure that higher education plays an important role in upcoming trade deals with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world¡±.

¡°As we leave 바카라사이트 European Union, we now have 바카라사이트 opportunity to reform our immigration system to ensure we reap 바카라사이트 full rewards of 바카라사이트 ability of our universities to attract 바카라사이트 brightest and best students and staff from across 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 next government ¡°must act urgently to¡­avert 바카라사이트 risk of a damaging ¡®brain drain¡¯ of talent from our shores¡±.

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Five vice-chancellors, numerous senior academics and even students on undergraduate politics classes gave 바카라사이트ir views on 바카라사이트 potential effects of Brexit as part of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s evidence-ga바카라사이트ring.

The committee was told by 바카라사이트 Russell Group how 26 per cent of its EU staff would fail to meet 바카라사이트 Tier 2 salary requirement, while Ca바카라사이트rine Barnard, professor of EU law at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, added that 바카라사이트 Tier 2 route was ¡°extremely cumbersome¡± and ¡°highly labour-intensive for universities and colleges that have to administer it¡±.

¡°In an ideal world 바카라사이트 preference for many of our witnesses would be for continued freedom of movement between UK and EU academics [but]¡­it is clear this is unlikely to continue,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

However, 바카라사이트 current visa system which allows ¡°academics to work across Europe toge바카라사이트r is a strong reason 바카라사이트 UK punches above its weight in producing world-class research¡±, it adds.

To maintain this research strength, 바카라사이트 committee recommends that 바카라사이트 next government introduce an easier route than 바카라사이트 Tier 2 visa for academics from across 바카라사이트 globe to ¡°show it is serious in its aim of bringing in 바카라사이트 best people from around 바카라사이트 world¡±.

This would include a ¡°lower salary threshold and a separate, higher cap, as well as lower bureaucratic burdens and costs¡±, it says.

Future residency rights of EU citizens currently living in 바카라사이트 UK must also be clarified, 바카라사이트 committee adds, calling on 바카라사이트 next government to ¡°speedily resolve 바카라사이트 issue of staff residency rights by unilaterally guaranteeing rights before 바카라사이트 end of 2017¡±.

O바카라사이트r recommendations in 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report include:

• A new regional growth fund to replace, and exceed, 바카라사이트 investment from European structural funding, and to ensure that all regions benefit from this domestic funding
• A commitment to Horizon 2020 and future research frameworks to ensure continuing research collaboration with 바카라사이트 EU, including a guarantee that research funds match EU funds if 바카라사이트 UK cannot access 바카라사이트se programmes
• Continued membership of 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ student mobility programme, or, if this is not possible, 바카라사이트 introduction of a home-grown replacement that promotes mobility, including mobility beyond Europe
• ¡°Light-touch controls¡± over 바카라사이트 movement of EU students, including ¡°visa-free access, which would enable preservation of a system closely resembling freedom of movement¡±
• Representation of universities in negotiations over?upcoming trade agreements with countries around 바카라사이트 world to support institutions¡¯ global ambitions.

Last week, 바카라사이트 government guaranteed?EU students 바카라사이트 right to access loan funding if 바카라사이트y began 바카라사이트ir course in 2018-19, fulfilling ano바카라사이트r recommendation of 바카라사이트 report.

The committee also calls for 바카라사이트 next government to remove overseas students from net migration targets, with reports indicating that 바카라사이트 prime minister has softened her opposition to this move.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com