UK Exit from the EU - Universities UK Update 13 (18 October 2016)

An update on the latest Brexit-related information and activities

EU student fees and financial support for 2017/18 entrants

We are pleased that the Department for Education has now confirmed that EU students applying for university places in England in 2017/18 will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants, and entitled to home fee status for the duration of their course, even past the point that the UK leaves the EU. This follows extensive political engagement across Government over the last few months on this issue, pressing the urgent need for such clarification. We have issues a public statement in response welcoming the announcement. We have also been promoting the statement extensively through our European networks, including via a joint press release with the European University Association.

Since the DfE announcement, Welsh Education Secretary Kirsty Williams has also confirmed that EU students applying for a place at a Welsh university for 2017/18 will continue to receive financial support. The Scottish Government have also announced that EU students commencing their studies in 2017 will be entitled to complete their studies post-Brexit without a change in fees status. We are hopeful that similar guarantees will shortly be offered in Northern Ireland.

Following issue of the statement for England, UUK has been liaising with the DfE for clarification on a number of specific issues. Firstly, the wording around EU students’ fee status in the initial iteration of the statement was quite ambiguous. This has now been amended so that the statement is clear in that the guarantee refers to both home fee status and loans. Secondly, at present, the statement contains an error in describing an EU student’s eligibility requirements for a Master’s loan. We have since received confirmation from the DfE that the actual eligibility criteria remain as set out in the relevant section of the gov.uk website, and that this week’s statement will be amended accordingly to reflect this. 

Treasury guarantee for structural and investment fund projects

The Chancellor recently announced an extension to the government guarantee for funding for EU structural and investment fund (ESIF) projects, to include all projects signed before the UK leaves the EU, and which continue after Brexit. The previous guarantee was provided only for projects signed before this year’s Autumn Statement on 23rd November, so the extension provides some much-needed certainty for those universities currently engaged in the development of ERDF or ESF projects, many of whom provided us with valuable case studies to add to our evidence base as we engaged with government on this.

The statement from the Chancellor confirms that the funding for projects signed after the Autumn Statement will be honoured by the government, provided they are (a) good value for money, and (b) in line with domestic strategic priorities. We are currently seeking additional clarification from the Managing Authorities responsible for ESIF in England on the specifics of these conditions, and we will share more information with members as we receive it. The announcement also states that, where the devolved administrations sign up to structural and investment fund projects under their current EU budget allocation prior to Brexit, the government will ‘ensure they are funded to meet these commitments’. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, is writing to each devolved administration to confirm these arrangements.

EU student recruitment fairs

We are keen to push out some positive messaging to potential EU students during this recruitment cycle. To this end, we are working closely with the British Council to engage with students, recruitment agents and media in key European markets by organising activities around British Council student fairs. Activities include panel debates, events for students/media/agents, sharing a short film, social media and providing messaging and collateral. This week events are taking place in Spain (Madrid, Barcelona) and Bulgaria (Sofia).

We are seeking senior spokespeople (vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors or faculty heads) to volunteer to be involved in upcoming events. UUK staff will also be attending.  Please contact Miranda Thomas for more information and express an interest in being involved.

  • Greece – Athens, 12-13 November
  • Greece – Thessaloniki, 16 November
  • Cyprus, 18-20 November
  • Bucharest, 26 November
  • Germany, late Nov/early Dec (date and location TBC)
  • Poland - Warsaw, 2 December
  • Poland - Krakow, 3 December

Invitation to Universities UK and HEFCE conference on post-Brexit challenges and opportunities, Monday 5th December 2016

I would like to invite you to attend this joint HEFCE and UUK conference, titled Putting universities at the heart of a thriving, global post-exit UK. The event will examine the current political and policy environment and explore new models to support and enhance UK universities’ international collaborations across Europe and the wider world. The event will provide a forum to share our latest thinking and to hear a range of perspectives from leading figures in the higher education sector and beyond. 

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Mark Garnier MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade
  • Professor Madeleine Atkins CBE, Chief Executive, HEFCE
  • Dame Julia Goodfellow, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kent and President, Universities UK
  • Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Vice-Chancellor, University of Aberdeen and Chair, Universities UK’s Research Policy Network
  • Representatives from the British Council, Policy Exchange, IPPR and others.

Places are limited to two per member institution (on a first-come, first served basis) and are open to UUK members or members of their senior leadership teams (DVC/PVC/Registrar or equivalent) or nominated Council members. You can book to attend here.

Roundtables with parliamentarians

Last week UUK hosted two roundtable discussions with parliamentarians in Westminster  (with the discussion led by Nigel Carrington and Paul Boyle) to discuss exit negotiation priorities and domestic policy development to address the implications of Brexit. We shared our latest thinking on what support universities need to thrive post-exit and asked parliamentarians for their advice and support in making our case. In total over 30 MPs and Lords attended these events, many of which we are now meeting with to follow-up with more detailed briefings.

House of Commons Education Select Committee inquiry into the impact of Brexit on higher education

At the end of September, the Education Committee launched its inquiry into the impact of Brexit on higher education. Although a number of Select Committees are currently holding inquiries into the impact of Brexit, we believe this one of the more important for the sector. We are in close contact with the Education Committee Chair, Neil Carmichael MP and he has specifically said that evidence for this inquiry ought to come from university leaders, academics and students among others. UUK will be submitting written evidence ahead of the 11 November deadline. In the meantime, if you would like to provide us with evidence or information to support our submission, please do contact Lucy Shackleton and Dan Hurley. We would also encourage universities to make their own submissions.

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications (MRPQ)

We are currently working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to inform their evidence base around MRPQ and its significance to universities. In supporting this, we are keen to understand the MRPQ Directive’s importance in terms of attracting other EU nationals (students and staff) to UK universities, and the associated value of qualifications awarded in the UK being recognised elsewhere. We would be grateful if you could share with us any information or evidence that highlights the importance of the current arrangements, so that we can inform Government’s position on the issue of mutual recognition ahead of the formal Brexit negotiations commencing. Please share any evidence with Dan Hurley by Friday 28th October.

Update on political engagement in Scotland

Brexit’s impact on HE was very much the focus of MSPs in Holyrood last week with the issue debated twice. A Scottish Government-led debate on 4 October on the impact on HE and FE saw cross-party recognition of the benefit that EU membership brings to HE. Universities Scotland took the opportunity to press for a decision on the post-Brexit fee status of EU applications for 2017 entry. You can read the Universities Scotland briefing here. The official report is available here. MSPs then heard from Professor Jeffery of the University of Edinburgh in a cross-party group meeting on 5 October which focused on the issues as they affected HE and FE. Professor Jeffery was clear that a ‘quarter of the University’s brain power’ is from the EU. He relayed examples of the much-valued and significant research EU nationals are progressing at Edinburgh, rather than other destinations around the world, because of the EU’s policy of freedom of movement.  The group agreed that more needed to be done to make the case for a soft Brexit which would retain the right to freedom of movement.

Professor Tim O’Shea of the University of Edinburgh will give evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee at a session in Glasgow on 24 October. The focus of the session will be access to EU labour markets and will give the sector an opportunity to press our points for the need to retain freedom of movement and demonstrate the benefits this brings to the Scottish and UK economy via the higher education sector.

Mr Russell was appointed Minister for Brexit in Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet. He is tasked with ensuring a strong role for Scotland within the UK’s Brexit negotiations. Universities Scotland has written to Mr Russell and is arranging a meeting with him. Mr Russell was formerly Cabinet Secretary for Education and understands the issues, as they affect HE, very well.

Universities Scotland is engaged in funding discussions with the Scottish Government. The fees status of subsequent cohorts of pre-Brexit entrants is now on the agenda as part of those discussions within the wider context of building a sustainable multi-year funding settlement for universities and enabling the wide accessibility of higher education to Scottish-domiciled students. This is being discussed separately to the fee status of 2017 EU entrants which requires a more urgent decision from Government.

Joint letter with NUS

The Guardian recently published a letter signed by Dame Julia Goodfellow, President, Universities UK and Malia Bouattia, President, National Union of Students, highlighting the openness, diversity and global outlook of UK universities (regardless of Brexit) and the value of overseas students and staff.