The vote to leave the EU was not one we wished for, but we must now work to address the significant and immediate challenges for universities, and identify the opportunities.
Crucially, we must redouble our efforts to promote the values that make British universities the best in the world. We are best when we are outward looking, globally networked and welcoming to the world. As institutions, we are resilient and adaptable. We must now seek and create new opportunities, drawing on our significant strengths and values.
Now is a time for calm heads. We must seek clarity amid the confusion, provide reassurance to students and staff and consider what support and policy changes British universities need to continue to thrive outside the European Union.
There are many unanswered questions about what this result means for students, academics and universities – and answers are unlikely to be quick or easy to secure in a complex political climate. We should, however, remember that leaving the EU will not happen overnight, there will be a gradual exit process with significant opportunities to seek assurances and influence future policy.
There is understandable anxiety among the 125,000 EU students currently studying at UK universities and the 43,000 university staff from other EU countries.
Our first priority must be to reassure them that their enormous contribution to our universities and our country is extremely highly valued and that the referendum result does not have any immediate implications for their immigration status, fee status or access to tuition fee loans.
We have received confirmation that current EU students, and those aiming to start courses this autumn, will continue to receive loans and/or grants for the duration of their courses. We must get this message out urgently, widely and with clarity.
We must convince the UK Government to take immediate steps to ensure that current staff and students from EU countries can continue to work and study at British universities in the long term.
To this end, we have added our voices to a broad-based coalition of prominent organisations and individuals in calling for the Government and Conservative leadership candidates to make a clear and unequivocal statement that EU migrants currently living in the UK are welcome here and that any future immigration changes must not apply to them.
Researchers working on EU-funded projects and students on Erasmus programmes feel particularly exposed. The message needs to go out that the referendum result has no immediate effect on UK researchers applying to or participating in Horizon 2020 programmes.
UK participants can continue to take part in the programme in the usual way and we urge European researchers to treat their UK colleagues as they have before.
UK students and staff continue to have full access to Erasmus+. We will prioritise securing opportunities for researchers and students to access vital pan-European programmes and build new global networks.
During the referendum campaign, commitments were made by Vote Leave to increase investment in research. We will have to make sure the next prime minister shares that commitment.
Our university sector is one of the UK’s global success stories. We now have an opportunity to influence and help shape a post-Brexit Britain. We will ensure that those negotiating the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU are clear on the priorities of universities. We will work to persuade Government to develop the domestic policy measures necessary to counteract the negative consequences of a Brexit on universities.
The next prime minister should get behind the sector as a major national asset, essential to post-Brexit economic success and growth. They should help us attract and retain international students and academics through concerted promotion and a welcoming visa offer.
Perhaps most importantly, universities have a central role to play in responding to the wider social challenges of the referendum decision.
Domestically, universities will use their strength as civic leaders to help address the fractures and divisions that the referendum campaign revealed. Internationally, university leaders will be loud and consistent voices in championing diversity, tolerance and internationalism and promoting the UK as the most welcoming destination for talented people from across the world. We urge political leaders to stand alongside us in this endeavour.
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