Young Scots will live with fate they did not vote for
Education Shân Ross
Scotland’s universities and colleges say they are still “in the dark” over what impact Brexit will have on them despite the UK leaving the EU in under a year.
Uncertainty remains over a host of issues including universities being unable to plan ahead financially for the four-year academic cycle, the loss of EU students and staff, coping without EU structural funds, the impact on research work and future participation in vital research programmes and the European Commissionfunded Erasmus+ programme allowing people to study overseas.
Latest Higher Education Statistics Agency figures show 8.8 per cent of students at Scottish universities were from the EU – 21,245 out of a total of 241,935.
Staff from the EU made up 12.4 per cent of those employed at universities in Scotland in 2016-17 – 5,495 out of a total of 44,365.
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, representing the principals and directors of Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions, said he was concerned about the free movement of students and staff.
“For a sector that has to plan several years ahead, clarity is of the utmost importance,” he said. “For Scottish universities to continue to punch above their weight against competitors around the world, we need to have confidence in our future operating environment. A good outcome to Brexit negotiations is central to that.
“What we don’t have is clarity about the UK’S openness to talent after the transition period. The free movement of talent and ideas is essential to the success of our universities, and we need Scotland and the UK to be welcoming to students, academics and other professionals who want to make their contributions here.
Andy Witty, director of sector policy at Colleges Scotland, the membership body for Scotland’s 26 colleges, said EU funding was helping colleges contribute to Scotland’s economy, and wider society.
“We currently have approximately 3 per cent non-uk EU staff members and over the past three years at least 7 per cent of learning activity has been delivered to students from other EU nations,” he said.
“Through Developing Scotland’s Workforce and the Youth Employment Initiative, £66 million of EU finance has been invested in our colleges over the past three years, often focused on those in the most deprived areas and most distant from the workforce through delivering employability training, and we are seeking reassurances around how this will be mitigated by the UK and
0 Scotland’s colleges and universities are still awaiting details of the potential effects of Brexit on students and staff Scottish Governments postbrexit.
Shirley-anne Somerville, minister for further education, said: “Across Scotland people have told us they are worried about losing the right to live, work and study where they want.
“EU citizens are crucial to our economy and society and we want them to continue to study or work at our universities and colleges. That’s why we are clear that the UK government should not impose a fee in relation to the settlement scheme and will look to meet settled status fees for EU citizens working in our devolved public services.
“We believe the best way to guarantee EU funding for higher education is by staying in the EU and maintaining our existing relationships. “.” The majority of young people in Scotland did not vote to leave the EU – but are forced to live with the consequence.
Unless we see significant progress in negotiations, students, the education system, and our wider communities look set to suffer significant losses as a result of this decision they did not make.
Welcoming EU students in Scotland diversifies our students’ experience and the wider community benefits from their contribution.
As we strive to improve access to higher education, it’s absolutely vital future students have access to the same standard of education as current students. Any threat to the ease with which EU students can study at Scotland’s institutions, and vice versa, is a threat to the quality of our education.
Equally, freedom of movement and programmes like Erasmus+ give Scottish students invaluable access to live and learn in foreign countries, with very few barriers. In an increasingly global world, we need to be building on these sorts of opportunities, rather than 0 NUS Scotland chief Luke Humberstone fears Brexit removing them. Since the referendum, NUS Scotland, and other organisations, have campaigned to protect the great benefits that EU membership brings to Scotland’s education system – and the opportunities available to young people. If politicians want to ensure that future generations aren’t worse off, they must make protecting student rights and opportunities a priority in any Brexit negotiations.
Scotland’s institutions have a long record of excelling in winning competitive research grants – and this is no different with EU research funding.
As Brexit negotiations progress, our ability to attract and retain worldclass researchers, and our opportunities to collaborate and access vital funding, must be protected.