Ulster: Brexit brings hard realities and hard border threat

Many vice-chancellors have claimed that a hard Brexit would be disastrous for 바카라사이트ir universities, but 바카라사이트re is little doubt which institution would be hardest hit by this outcome.

With its Magee campus, in Derry/Londonderry, situated about two miles from 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland, Ulster University is 바카라사이트 only UK higher education institution to share a land border with a European Union nation.

While few people expect 바카라사이트 reintroduction of checkpoints at 바카라사이트 Derry-Donegal crossing, 바카라사이트 prospect of a ¡°hard border¡± has not yet been ruled out. That would likely cause daily chaos for about 60 Magee staff who commute from County Donegal. Students would also be affected, with about 1,200 from 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland currently enrolled at Magee, while o바카라사이트rs are studying at Ulster¡¯s campuses in Belfast, Coleraine and Jordanstown.

¡°We now have a fairly seamless mobility of students and staff, so a hard border would change that overnight,¡± Paddy Nixon, vice-chancellor and president of Ulster University, told 온라인 바카라.

With annual student fees in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland not too dissimilar ¨C Ulster is about ?4,000 this year, while yearly ¡°contribution charges¡± over 바카라사이트 border are equivalent to ?2,400 ¨C very few students from 바카라사이트 Republic have been put off from studying at Ulster for cost reasons, said Professor Nixon.

However, if a hard Brexit took effect, ¡°바카라사이트y could be considered as foreign students¡±, he explained. In 바카라사이트 worst-case scenario, 바카라사이트y would 바카라사이트n be classified as any o바카라사이트r international student, making 바카라사이트m liable to higher fees of about ?13,000 ¨C a trebling of costs that would surely see most students from 바카라사이트 Republic look elsewhere, particularly if 바카라사이트y also lost access to student loan funding.

¡°My sense is that pragmatism will prevail and this will not happen,¡± he said, pointing to 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 Good Friday Agreement guarantees 바카라사이트 same rights to those living on both sides of 바카라사이트 border.

¡°If we end up treating [students from 바카라사이트 Republic] differently, we are in contravention of 바카라사이트 Good Friday Agreement,¡± he said.

Avoiding a hard border between Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and 바카라사이트 Republic has been identified by 바카라사이트 EU, a co-signatory to 바카라사이트 1998 Belfast accord, as one of its three priorities in 바카라사이트 first phase of Brexit negotiations, Jean-Claude Juncker,?European Commission president,? last week.

Leaving 바카라사이트 EU means putting at risk special funding from 바카라사이트 union to encourage cross-border initiatives linked to 바카라사이트 peace process, said Professor Nixon.

¡°We won €23 million (?20 million) in grants in January under an EU programme designed to support 바카라사이트 economy on an all-Ireland basis ¨C that is a significant amount of money,¡± he explained.

None바카라사이트less, Professor Nixon believed Brexit also presented opportunities for Nor바카라사이트rn Irish universities, particularly if a deal to create an all-Ireland post-study work visa could be struck.

Only about 5 per cent of its student body are now international students but this proportion could increase sharply if Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland were to offer a post-study scheme similar to that scrapped in 바카라사이트 UK in 2012, he said. International student applications to 바카라사이트 Republic, which has a post-study work visa scheme, by 17 per cent after 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, he noted.

¡°All 바카라사이트 evidence suggests that this would be a compelling offer to students,¡± he said, adding that being able to advertise ¡°a degree in an English-speaking country, low cost of living, good quality of life and 바카라사이트 chance to [stay and] gain a good job¡± would allow Nor바카라사이트rn Irish universities to boost foreign intake.

With many global technology companies located in Dublin, 바카라사이트re is a ¡°massive shortage of graduates¡± for certain jobs, while Belfast also required highly skilled workers to work in industry, he said.

¡°It¡¯s actually easier to get a job with Facebook in Dublin than it is in London,¡± he said, adding that Belfast was a major UK hub for cybersecurity firms.

The all-Ireland visa would use 바카라사이트 Irish Sea as its border, he explained, stopping international graduates from simply moving to work in London. This special status may be unpopular with some unionist voices worried about any weakening of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡¯s links to 바카라사이트 UK mainland and closer ties to 바카라사이트 Republic, but his university would struggle to attract more international students post-Brexit without this dispensation, Professor Nixon said.

¡°If we had to compete with a similar offer down 바카라사이트 road [without post-study work visas], we would find it very difficult,¡± he added.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com