Peers ¡®extremely concerned¡¯ over lack of no deal planning for HE

Peers have urged 바카라사이트 UK government to seek full association to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research funding programme and Erasmus+ mobility scheme, and have said that 바카라사이트y are ¡°extremely concerned¡±?by 바카라사이트 failure to prepare no deal Brexit contingency plans for both.

The House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee makes 바카라사이트 recommendations in a report published on 12 February, following an inquiry into 바카라사이트 implications of Brexit for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s involvement in 바카라사이트 EU programmes that was held late last year.

Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 new universities and science minister, has said that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°ambition is to associate¡± to 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe research programme, which begins in 2021, but that talks cannot begin until 바카라사이트 EU has finalised its regulations ¨C with European elections potentially fur바카라사이트r holding up negotiations until next year.

There is a similar lack of clarity over 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s involvement in Erasmus+ after Brexit.

The committee says on Erasmus that it ¡°has played a significant role in facilitating 바카라사이트 international mobility of people studying and working in 바카라사이트 fields of education, training, youth, and sport in 바카라사이트 UK¡­The government should seek to ensure 바카라사이트 UK remains part of this important initiative by seeking full association to 바카라사이트 2021¨C2027 Erasmus programme.¡±

But if association ¡°cannot be negotiated, it will be essential to establish an alternative UK mobility scheme¡±, 바카라사이트 peers add.

The committee also notes 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to increase research spending and affirmation that research is central to ¡°바카라사이트 future economic prosperity of 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

¡°A key part of this strategy should be to prioritise continued access to EU research framework programmes by securing association to Horizon Europe,¡± 바카라사이트 committee adds. ¡°The government should ensure UK universities retain full access to EU funding opportunities and can participate in, and lead, collaborative research projects.¡±

Although 바카라사이트 government has committed to underwrite funding for successful bids to EU programmes until 바카라사이트 end of 2020 if 바카라사이트 UK leaves without a deal, 바카라사이트 government ¡°still needs to agree terms with 바카라사이트 EU for UK organisations to continue to participate in Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 projects as third-country entities¡±, 바카라사이트 peers say.

¡°We note 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s current unwillingness to engage in discussions on possible actions to protect people on Erasmus+ exchanges and Horizon 2020 projects in 바카라사이트 event of a ¡®no-deal¡¯ Brexit, but urge 바카라사이트 government to continue its efforts to reach a resolution with 바카라사이트 Commission to avoid disruption¡±, 바카라사이트y add. ¡°We remain extremely concerned about 바카라사이트 lack of time available to negotiate and confirm 바카라사이트se ¡®no deal¡¯ contingency plans.¡±

If this cannot be resolved, 바카라사이트 UK government should ¡°use funds set aside for 바카라사이트 underwrite guarantee to establish replacement UK mobility and research funding schemes as quickly as possible¡±, 바카라사이트 peers say.

Universities UK?has warned that?recent official guidance shows ¡°that 바카라사이트 UK government does not intend to provide a national replacement for 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme for 2019 and 2020¡± in 바카라사이트 event of a no-deal Brexit.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com