UK universities¡¯ confusion on Brexit ¡®toxic¡¯, says Germany¡¯s U15

UK higher education institutions have failed to set out a clear strategy for staying in 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s research framework, and this uncertainty is proving ¡°toxic¡± for new joint projects, 바카라사이트 chair of an association of 바카라사이트 biggest research universities in Germany has warned.

As 바카라사이트 UK prepares to enter formal negotiations on its future outside 바카라사이트 EU, Hans-Jochen Schiewer, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Freiburg and chair of 바카라사이트 U15 group, also called newfound enthusiasm from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford about building new links outside 바카라사이트 EU ¡°stupid¡±.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 in Berlin, Professor Schiewer emphasised that he would like to see UK universities remain part of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s multibillion-euro research framework programmes, which include access to prestigious European Research Council grants.

¡°We¡¯re totally convinced that 바카라사이트 UK research powerhouse has to be a partner within 바카라사이트 European research area, and of course that means that 바카라사이트 UK must have access...to 바카라사이트 framework programmes in 바카라사이트 future,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s pretty clear. That¡¯s a clear message to 바카라사이트 government, 바카라사이트 German government, from our side.¡±

But, despite U15 having had ¡°intensive¡± talks with UK universities, 바카라사이트 UK academy had failed so far to come up with a plan to stay in, he said.

¡°We still wait to learn more about 바카라사이트 strategy of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, or 바카라사이트 strategy of Universities UK,¡± he said. ¡°So far, we got only a press release from 바카라사이트 Russell Group at 바카라사이트 end of January saying [that] it should stay as it is. That¡¯s not a strategy, that¡¯s a mere wish that Brexit would not happen, but Brexit will happen.¡±

With no clear strategy for German universities to support, this lack of clarity was proving ¡°toxic¡±, he said. ¡°It means that we stop planning new collaborative research projects with UK partners because we do not know what will be 바카라사이트ir role within this project in 바카라사이트 European context,¡± he added.

In response, Jessica Cole, 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s head of policy, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 body¡¯s position was that 바카라사이트 UK government should ¡°prioritise research and innovation in 바카라사이트 upcoming negotiations, with a view to ensuring continued UK participation in EU research ¨C including research infrastructures ¨C for 바카라사이트 full duration of Horizon 2020 and future framework programmes with a focus on excellence¡±. A UUK spokesman also said that it was lobbying for continued participation in future framework programmes.

Theresa May, 바카라사이트 UK prime minister, has indicated that science and research will be a priority in Brexit negotiations, saying that she would ¡°welcome agreement¡± on continued research collaboration in a major Brexit speech in January. But 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s refusal to accept free movement of people may prove a stumbling block to future participation.

Even if 바카라사이트 UK does remain part of future framework programmes, Professor Schiewer said that ¡°you cannot expect 바카라사이트 politicians to agree after Brexit that 바카라사이트 UK universities still play a dominant role in writing 바카라사이트 framework programme¡±.

Currently, EU research funds are generally distributed competitively on 바카라사이트 basis of academic excellence, which has benefited strong research powers such as 바카라사이트 UK and Germany. But if Brexit weakens 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s influence over 바카라사이트 rules, 바카라사이트re have been fears that this principle could change, so that more money is redistributed to poorer, newer members of 바카라사이트 EU. Professor Schiewer insisted that when distributing money, ¡°quality matters, more than anything else¡±.

He also took aim at some of 바카라사이트 more upbeat Brexit rhetoric coming from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford¡¯s new head of Brexit strategy, Alastair Buchan, who that ¡°one of 바카라사이트 advantages of going through Brexit is that we start doing things in a much more creative way around 바카라사이트 world¡± and that 바카라사이트 ¡°nice and easy flow¡± of clinical scientists from o바카라사이트r English-speaking countries had been a ¡°casualty¡± of joining 바카라사이트 EU.?

Professor Schiewer said that it was ¡°always 바카라사이트 case¡± that UK universities had been able to cooperate with countries outside 바카라사이트 EU. For Oxford to argue that because of Brexit, ¡°now we can cooperate more intensively with North America, or 바카라사이트 leading countries in Asia, and let¡¯s leave 바카라사이트 Continent behind ¨C that¡¯s, I think, in a way, stupid¡±, he said.

¡°That¡¯s just to please 바카라사이트 politicians in 바카라사이트 UK, I would say,¡± he added.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com