University head steps in over fate of EU students under threat from Brexit
BY JUDITH DUFFY
THE head of one of Scotland’s ancient universities has called for “urgent clarification” on how EU students who begin their studies here next year will be affect- ed by Brexit.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, principal of the University of Aberdeen, warned the situation for EU students who start their courses in 2017, and may be in the middle of their studies when the UK leaves Europe, was unclear.
He said he hoped they would be allowed to continue under the same conditions under which they arrived, but the situation had to be clarified now ahead of the recruitment of students for the next academic year taking place this autumn.
Diamond said he welcomed assurances from the Scottish Government that funding will remain in place to support EU students already studying here or who will start this year.
But he added: “For those students who are coming in 2017, it is important we get clarity. My sense is that there will be no change in the rights of people to come in the short term – we are still members of Europe – but we need clarity for those people who come before we leave Europe, but haven’t finished their course after we leave Europe.
“I would very much hope the clarity given to those people is that they will be treated throughout their course under the conditions on which they arrive.”
His comments come after it was reported the UK’s vote to leave the EU is putting pressure on elite universities, with anecdotal cases of British academics being asked to leave EU-funded projects and EU projects being reluctant to collaborate with UK partners.
Diamond said he had not seen any such “visible” impact, and the message should be that the UK is still good to collaborate with and there is no change in circumstances while Brexit negotiations take place.
But he added that one issue which would have to be addressed in the future was that participating in EU research projects would also require signing up to European regulations.
“If you are going to be doing European-funded research as a collaborator then you need to accede to the regulations around clinical trials or animal rights, for example,” he said.
“There is a whole set of European regulations that one would need to sign up to in order to be able to have (funding) access in the first place – that is going to be something for people to think about.”
He said it was difficult to yet know what the longer-term impact of leaving the EU would be and called for the new “Brexit Secretary” David Davis to ensure the “voice of higher education is heard loudly at the table”.
There are 4,500 EU staff and 24,000 EU students in Scotland, according to Universities Scotland, which represents the 19 higher education institutions. Sixteen per cent of academic staff and 23 per cent of Scotland’s research-only staff are from the EU.
Scottish universities also received more than £88 million in research funds from EU-related bodies in 201314, accounting for 13 per cent of all research funding.
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, said welcome assurances had been given by the EU’s research commissioner that the UK’s rights would remain unchanged until the country’s exit from the EU.
“We are heartened by messages of reassurance and continued friendship. We need to preserve this under any arrangements for future co-operation between the UK and EU.
“We will work with all partners in Scotland, the UK and Europe to secure continued access to research partnerships at a European level.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “EU students are welcome in Scotland. We are proud that Scotland is a destination of choice for students and staff from overseas and we are committed to ensuring this remains the case.
“That is why we have confirmed that funding will remain in place to support EU students already studying here or preparing to start and we have renewed our call for the reintroduction of a post-study work visa.”