UK universities urge country to stay in EU

An organization representing universities in the UK has warned against the country leaving the EU.

The Universities UK lobby group has launched a campaign, Universities for Europe, to make the case that Britain must remain a member of the union to safeguard the quality of its higher education sector.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Universities UK president-elect and University of Kent vice-chancellor Julia Goodfellow said that: “It is abundantly clear that the UK’s membership of the European Union has an overwhelmingly positive impact on our world-leading universities, enhancing university research and teaching.”

She went on to say: “The case for staying in Europe is about ensuring the future prosperity of the UK, it’s about maximising the chances of new discoveries that enhance the society in which we live, it’s about the UK’s standing in the world, it’s about British jobs and it’s about opportunities for British people now and in the future.”

Following his election victory in May, prime minister David Cameron has committed to holding a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU by the end of 2017. Recent reports suggest the vote could take place as early as June 2016.

IZA World of Labor author Arnaud Chevalier has written for us about the importance of attracting foreign students, arguing that: “international student mobility can be beneficial for all participants: migrating students and those who remain at home, as well as home and host societies”.

Read more on this story at EurActiv.

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