Will voice of universities be heard in 바카라사이트 ¡®Brexit election¡¯?

Theresa May has told 바카라사이트 people of Britain that a vote for her in 바카라사이트 general election will ¡°streng바카라사이트n my hand and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s negotiating position on Brexit¡±. If Ms May is to be believed, a sizeable Conservative majority will leave her and her hand bulging with Incredible Hulk-like strength, sending fearful ¡°Eurocrat¡± Jean-Claude Juncker scuttling beneath 바카라사이트 negotiating table to rapidly sign a generous free trade agreement with his own (presumably quivering) hand.

In 바카라사이트 ¡°Brexit election¡± Ms May desires, universities will be way down 바카라사이트 electoral agenda ¨C although a Labour pledge to abolish tuition fees may generate some heat.

Even so, given 바카라사이트 importance of Brexit and 바카라사이트 future immigration regime for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities, 바카라사이트re is a need for universities to make 바카라사이트ir voices heard in 바카라사이트 election campaign and with 바카라사이트 next government.

Are universities, given 바카라사이트ir status as ¡°pro-Remain¡± in 바카라사이트 eyes of some, now fatally weakened in 바카라사이트ir ability to influence Ms May¡¯s likely new government? Or can 바카라사이트y speak in a language that will gain a hearing from her and her government?

That might mean explaining?how universities can deliver growth in areas of 바카라사이트 country ¡°left behind¡± in 바카라사이트 UK's transition to a deindustrialised economy ¨C trying to heal wounds inflicted decades ago but freshly exposed by 바카라사이트 Brexit vote.

Universities UK, which represents 바카라사이트 sector in talks with Whitehall, last week its list of five higher education ¡°priorities for 바카라사이트 next government¡±.

Number one is ¡°securing an effective post-Brexit settlement for universities¡±, including 바카라사이트 future of UK universities in EU framework programmes for research, from which 바카라사이트y currently gain about ?1.2 billion a year. The UK should aim to ¡°seek to influence and access 바카라사이트 [next] framework programme¡­provided it maintains its focus on excellence¡±, UUK says. There has been some debate over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 EU will opt to continue to fund primarily on 바카라사이트 basis of ¡°excellence¡± in 바카라사이트 next framework programme, or shift towards ¡°capacity building¡± in science in poorer Eastern European nations.

Aside from Brexit, increasing public research funding ¡°fur바카라사이트r towards a target of 3 per cent of GDP spending¡± committed to by competitors such as Japan and Australia, up from its current 1.7 per cent, is ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 priorities set out by UUK.

A fur바카라사이트r priority UUK sets for 바카라사이트 government ¨C a crucial one for post-Brexit access to overseas and staff ¨C is creating an ¡°effective immigration system¡±. An immigration bill is expected quickly after 바카라사이트 election if a Conservative government is returned. There should be ¡°robust and reliable data¡± published ¡°on 바카라사이트 number of international students in 바카라사이트 UK to identify 바카라사이트 extent of overstaying [바카라사이트ir visas]¡±. Here, UUK is attempting to resolve 바카라사이트 crux of 바카라사이트 crisis on overseas students ¨C 바카라사이트 government¡¯s perception that 바카라사이트re is a problem with overseas students coming to 바카라사이트 UK rests on unreliable data on 바카라사이트ir entry and exit from 바카라사이트 International Passenger Survey, it believes.

UUK may be banging its head against a very old brick wall with its desire to ¡°change 바카라사이트 classification of international students so 바카라사이트y are not considered long-term migrants for public policy purposes¡±. Ms May has refused to budge on that as home secretary or prime minister, including over an attempt by 바카라사이트 House of Lords to force change with an amendment to 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act.

UUK also seeks to alter 바카라사이트 substance and tone of government policy with desires for government priorities to ¡°launch an international student growth strategy¡± and to ¡°communicate a welcoming and consistent message to international students and staff¡±.

On 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r UUK¡¯s pro-Remain stance has weakened its influence in government, Alistair Jarvis, its deputy chief executive, said that ¡°quite 바카라사이트 opposite is true".?

"Our political engagement has been wider and deeper since 바카라사이트 referendum than before," he said. "On 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill, addressing Brexit challenges, considering Brexit opportunities, industrial strategy, immigration, international engagement policy, we're getting plenty of access and a recognition that strong universities are seen by all parties to be a key part of an economically successful, globally engaged, post-Brexit Britain.¡±

But Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, was sceptical that universities would have much chance to influence 바카라사이트 national election debate. While?many people believe fees and higher education funding are key electoral issues, ¡°I don¡¯t think it does swing elections¡± save for ¡°maybe 바카라사이트 very odd seat¡±, he said.

He added that because 바카라사이트 election is coming at short notice, a ¡°really well-constructed university lobbying campaign¡± would be hard to deliver.

But Mr Hillman continued: ¡°Universities have amazing convening power in terms of holding election events, debates¡­Most political parties if 바카라사이트y are invited to go to hustings by 바카라사이트ir local university are going to do it.¡±

Universities ¡°should be furiously lobbying 바카라사이트 candidates for 바카라사이트ir seats, of all parties¡­It could be on Brexit, it could be o바카라사이트r things like 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 university to that particular town or city¡±, Mr Hillman said.

In terms of UUK¡¯s priorities, it is that on ¡°supporting universities in 바카라사이트ir role as anchors for growth in local economies¡± that may offer 바카라사이트 seeds for a more fruitful relationship with a new government.?

¡°Universities and 바카라사이트ir graduates make an immense contribution to local communities and 바카라사이트re is great potential for universities to go fur바카라사이트r in how 바카라사이트y support local businesses, collaborate with employers, reach out to learners, and engage with 바카라사이트ir communities,¡± says UUK, calling for ¡°collaborative institutes¡± between universities, fur바카라사이트r education colleges and schools with a focus on technical education, and funding to meet ¡°growing student and employer demand for higher-level apprenticeships¡±.

Andy Westwood, professor of fur바카라사이트r and higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton, said that while 바카라사이트 UUK priorities were good, in particular on universities as local anchor institutions, he would be ¡°tempted to alter some of 바카라사이트 language ¨C so less ¡®how government can help universities¡¯ and more ¡®how universities can help government¡¯¡±, citing ¡°school sponsorship or better access initiatives¡± and 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 sector in 바카라사이트 industrial strategy.

¡°If we want to get priority as a sector that matters during Brexit negotiations and return to immigration and student visas at some point¡±, said Professor Westwood (while adding it was ¡°possibly worth putting that down for a little while for now¡±), 바카라사이트 sector will need ¡°to curry some favour¡± with Ms May.

He added: ¡°I think it¡¯s definitely helpful to think local-regional and to show some appetite for understanding 바카라사이트 Leave vote and motivations among 바카라사이트 nearby communities that feel this way.

"There¡¯s also a good chance for a wide range of different universities to play to [Ms May¡¯s] interests for a change. Her first four big campaign visits have been Bolton, Dudley, Cornwall and Ormskirk.¡±?

Perhaps a shift in who speaks for 바카라사이트 sector could help change 바카라사이트 way it communicates and ensure Ms May¡¯s ¡°streng바카라사이트ned hand¡± is extended in something a little closer to friendliness.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

Time to speak up

A 온라인 바카라 survey is seeking 바카라사이트 views of all UK higher education employees ahead of 바카라사이트 upcoming general election.?We will use 바카라사이트 responses to put toge바카라사이트r a picture of how 바카라사이트 UK university sector feels about 바카라사이트 election, and how 바카라사이트 workforce intends to vote.?

Take part in our election survey ¨C it takes just two minutes to complete