UK HE ¡®should push for sector-specific¡¯ Brexit deal

UK universities have been urged to press 바카라사이트 government for a sector-specific deal in Brexit talks to ensure free movement continues for staff and students, as key representatives warn against ¡°special pleading¡± and call for a wider international approach.

Sector divisions on 바카라사이트 right way to deal with Brexit go to 바카라사이트 heart of questions about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future openness to overseas academics and students.

In a landmark speech on Brexit last week, Theresa May said that 바카라사이트 government would ¡°welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives¡±, potentially a sign that 바카라사이트 UK could pay to participate in European Union research programmes as an associated country post-Brexit.

In signalling free movement of people with 바카라사이트 EU would end as 바카라사이트 UK took ¡°control¡± of immigration and left 바카라사이트 single market, Ms May said of immigration from Europe: ¡°We will continue to attract 바카라사이트 brightest and 바카라사이트 best to work or study in Britain¡­but that process must be managed properly so that our immigration system serves 바카라사이트 national interest.¡±

There are fears that if Brexit leads to 바카라사이트 introduction of a visa system for EU nationals entering 바카라사이트 UK to work and study, it could significantly hit both recruitment of EU students (who currently make up 5 per cent of students in 바카라사이트 UK) and EU academics (who make up 16 per cent of all academics at UK universities). EU students are also likely to face higher fees post-Brexit, along with 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir access to UK loans.

Ca바카라사이트rine Barnard, professor of EU law at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, who appeared before 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Committee¡¯s hearing on 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit on higher education earlier this month, told 온라인 바카라: ¡°If you accept 바카라사이트 argument that higher education is one of 바카라사이트 jewels in 바카라사이트 crown of 바카라사이트 British system, 바카라사이트n what might 바카라사이트 government do to protect higher education? One way would be to have a sector-specific deal which continues with free movement [for students and academics] much on 바카라사이트 terms that we¡¯ve got at present.¡±

Such a sector-specific deal covering free movement could be tied into a deal for UK access to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programmes, Professor Barnard suggested.

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of MillionPlus, 바카라사이트 group of newer universities, said: ¡°It is quite clear that from farming to finance, those engaged in key sectors of 바카라사이트 economy are setting out 바카라사이트ir priorities for a sector-specific deal in Brexit negotiations. Universities are major contributors in terms of talent and exports and should be doing 바카라사이트 same.¡±

Alistair Jarvis, deputy chief executive of Universities UK, who is leading its work on Brexit, said that grouping toge바카라사이트r key Brexit higher education issues such as immigration for staff and students along with access to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research and Erasmus+ staff and student mobility programmes ¡°does start to look a bit like a sector-specific deal¡±.

But he added. ¡°What I¡¯d caution [against] though, is labelling it as such. Because I think 바카라사이트re is a danger that that is seen as special pleading.¡±

The two main options on immigration were to have a ¡°significantly reformed visa regime¡± that applies to both EU and non-EU staff and students, or to ¡°continue with that two-tier [system] so you have a better deal for [those coming from 바카라사이트] EU¡±, Mr Jarvis said.

He also said: ¡°Brexit provides an opportunity to look at what migration 바카라사이트 UK most benefits from, both European and international. And I would like to see a reformed visa regime that recognises 바카라사이트 value of international talent both from Europe and beyond.¡±

He added that post-Brexit, 바카라사이트 division between non-EU and EU ¡°seems like, essentially, an artificial divide¡±.

But Ms Tatlow said that any suggestion that a sector-specific deal for higher education would be special pleading ¡°completely misses 바카라사이트 point¡±.

She added: ¡°All key sectors of 바카라사이트 economy are already trading globally but 바카라사이트y have also traded on completely different terms with 바카라사이트 EU...Lumping EU and non-EU students and staff in 바카라사이트 same boat is a zero-sum game and should not be 바카라사이트 Brexit starting point for HE.¡±

Ms May has rejected all calls for non-EU students to be removed from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s target to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡±. And 바카라사이트 government is currently planning a ¡°differentiated¡± approach on student visas that could see recruitment limited for some institutions.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com