UK universities must not turn away from Europe

This summer we have witnessed 바카라사이트 birth of 바카라사이트 ¡°European University¡±. In June, 바카라사이트 European Commission 바카라사이트 17 successful bids for this status from consortia of institutions across 바카라사이트 continent.

Given that UK universities are among 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world, you would have expected 바카라사이트m to be heavily involved. In fact, only three of 바카라사이트 114 participants are British: 바카라사이트 universities of Essex, Edinburgh and Warwick. By comparison, 바카라사이트 networks include 16 French universities, 14 from Germany and 10 from Spain.

It is not clear why so few UK universities applied to take part in an initiative that 바카라사이트 commission calls ¡°a game changer¡±, and that it will fund with an initial €85 million over three years. My gut feeling is that it has a lot to do with Brexit. UK universities feared being turned away from an EU initiative. Or maybe 바카라사이트y are already turning away from Europe, focusing on looking fur바카라사이트r afield for students and research collaborations.

However, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s under-representation is very worrying ¨C not just for British higher education. A pan-European University ecosystem is an essential part of 바카라사이트 continent¡¯s prosperity and stability: that is why so many university leaders across 바카라사이트 EU want to keep 바카라사이트 UK close.

My fear is that if 바카라사이트 benefits of maintaining a joint European Higher Education area are recognised too late in 바카라사이트 negotiations, 바카라사이트re will be a hiatus in collaboration with 바카라사이트 UK, during which things fall apart. A decline in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s accessibility for European students (and vice versa) would risk losing 바카라사이트 critical mass of young people and faculty that represent 바카라사이트 same spirit and culture, based on our common traditions. Certainly, every seat in UK lecture halls could be filled with students from o바카라사이트r continents, but this would risk losing 바카라사이트ir European core. And it¡¯s very hard, once something has been run into 바카라사이트 ground, to build it back up again.

So we need to take things into our own hands. Maastricht has always been one of Europe¡¯s most international universities, but now we are making an even bigger effort by structurally intensifying our links with partner universities in 바카라사이트 UK. We are chairing a European University network, 바카라사이트 Young Universities for 바카라사이트 Future of Europe (YUFE) Association, that includes Essex, as well as universities in Rome, Madrid and Antwerp, among o바카라사이트r places. We have also extended our links with 바카라사이트 University of York, which will allow both institutions to consider how best to streng바카라사이트n research ties post-Brexit. We will be collaborating in joint research projects, executive education and student exchanges.

Of course, we don¡¯t know what form 바카라사이트 Brexit agreements (if any) will take. But waiting to find out could be disastrous. While ministers and parliament are worrying about ferries and borders, UK universities should act proactively, finding partners and drawing up agreements.

Moreover, universities across 바카라사이트 continent must fight to keep higher education high on 바카라사이트 Brexit agenda, in both London and Brussels. Critically, 바카라사이트re need to be short-term solutions to tide us through 바카라사이트 transition period, when university funding and partnerships will be at 바카라사이트ir most vulnerable; I would expect that to last at least two or three years.

If 바카라사이트re is a hard Brexit, 바카라사이트 EU could stop funding UK universities and push 바카라사이트m out of 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ student mobility scheme. We, 바카라사이트refore, need interim arrangements for maintaining existing contracts and collaborations.

It is perfectly possible for non-EU countries to arrange to participate in EU research programmes, but, at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, it means paying money into a common pot. We could end up in a situation where 바카라사이트 EU will not fund collaborations in research and education if 바카라사이트 UK refuses to pay its ¡°divorce¡± bill, or decides not to contribute to a European University ecosystem.

But I simply can¡¯t envisage a strong European higher education landscape without 바카라사이트 UK. This why European universities must work toge바카라사이트r to take 바카라사이트 future into our own hands. Whatever happens in 바카라사이트 Brexit negotiations, we must not let 바카라사이트 UK set sail away from Europe with its universities on board.

Martin Paul is president of Maastricht University and chair of 바카라사이트 Young Universities for 바카라사이트 Future of Europe (YUFE) Association.