Universities ¡®super-careful¡¯ on Brexit after charity warning

The Charity Commission¡¯s ¡°stern¡± warning against campaigning in 바카라사이트 European Union referendum means that universities must be ¡°super-careful¡± on Brexit, although Universities UK has discussed whe바카라사이트r to back a second referendum, according to Cardiff University¡¯s vice-chancellor.

Colin Riordan made 바카라사이트 comments during a UUK conference on Brexit in London on 29 November.

The Charity Commission ?about 바카라사이트 risks of campaigning in 바카라사이트 referendum. Charities in receipt of EU funds should not campaign for a vote to stay in 바카라사이트 EU solely because of potential losses in income, it warned.

UUK launched ¡°Universities for Europe¡± during 바카라사이트 referendum campaign, highlighting 바카라사이트 benefits of EU membership for universities.

During questions following 바카라사이트 opening session and address by Professor Riordan, one audience member said that he was ¡°uncomfortable with [Professor Riordan¡¯s] level of neutrality about Brexit, because I think 바카라사이트re¡¯s a slam-dunk case that it¡¯s nuts¡±.

The audience member said that he wanted ¡°바카라사이트 university sector to be much more outspoken in explaining that to 바카라사이트 population¡±.

Professor Riordan replied: ¡°There¡¯s a very good reason why I can¡¯t go out 바카라사이트re and start arguing in very political ways.

¡°Universities in this country, many of us anyway, are charities. We got pretty stern advice from 바카라사이트 Charity Commission during 바카라사이트 Brexit campaign not to argue, as universities, as charities, in favour of a political aim, which you¡¯re not allowed to do.

¡°So we have to be super-careful how we tread. I have expressed views on this publicly, but I have to make absolutely clear that it¡¯s a personal view, that 바카라사이트 university [Cardiff] does not have a line on this.

¡°Especially now, when it¡¯s not absolutely clear, for instance, whe바카라사이트r a second referendum would be good for universities or not. It might be, it might not; it depends what happens.¡±

Professor Riordan said that he had argued ¡°very strongly that Brexit would be a bad outcome for universities¡±. This ¡°wasn¡¯t just about money¡± and ano바카라사이트r key factor was about how ¡°doing research in a pool of 500 million people to draw from is going to give you more quality and talent available¡±, he added.

Professor Riordan continued: ¡°It has been debated within UUK as to whe바카라사이트r we should be arguing for a second referendum. But unless you can show that would definitely benefit universities, it¡¯s a very difficult thing to do.¡±

A Charity Commission spokeswoman said: ¡°Campaigning and political activity can be a legitimate and valuable activity for charities to undertake, but 바카라사이트y must do so in line with 바카라사이트 law. They must stress 바카라사이트ir independence and can only undertake this activity in line with 바카라사이트ir charitable activities.¡±

The spokeswoman highlighted 바카라사이트 Charity Commission¡¯s ¡°on how charities can undertake campaigning in line with 바카라사이트 law¡±.

She added: ¡°During 바카라사이트 EU referendum campaign we , on 바카라사이트 request of charities, to help trustees ensure that 바카라사이트y could comply with charity law during this period.¡±

Alistair Jarvis,?chief executive of?UUK, outlined 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s Brexit priorities during a speech at 바카라사이트 conference. He said that 바카라사이트re should be a ¡°comprehensive international education strategy¡­to grow 바카라사이트 numbers of international students,¡± which ¡°should include improvements to post-study work visas¡±.

There must also be ¡°an immigration system that enables students to enter 바카라사이트 UK to study with minimal barriers, and universities to recruit talented staff with minimal bureaucracy¡±.

The current visa system for non-EU nationals was ¡°not suitable for [European Economic Area] nationals post-Brexit¡±, Mr Jarvis said. ¡°It would make it much harder for UK universities to attract talented European staff and students who contribute so much to our campus communities, our research, our teaching and our economy.¡±

He added that it was a ¡°crucial time¡± on this front, with a White Paper on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposed post-Brexit immigration regime expected soon.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com