The Dangers of Brexit for UK Higher Education ****************************************************************************************** * The Dangers of Brexit for UK Higher Education ****************************************************************************************** The EU is one of the most productive academic and scientific hubs in the world; one that B losing out on by leaving The European Union started off as the European Coal and Steel Community which began in 195 to unite numerous European nations both economically and politically. Since then it has de significantly and now unites Europe’s academics and innovators. In the lead up to Britain’ this June, many debates on membership have ignored the current benefits to British higher science which would be lost if Britain were to leave. The money put into the EU by the mem a number beneficial academic and research based schemes. British university officials have that membership in the EU betters the international standing of British universities, ensu graduate prospects for British students, and funds important cutting-edge research. If the to EU, the British higher education system would lose these connections and be required to agreements most probably fully funded by the British government. The Erasmus programme is an EU run programme which supports university students from the E allowing them to study and live abroad for part of their degree. Since its launch in 1987, students and 20,000 academics have partaken in the scheme. Having experienced the Erasmus for myself, I am certain that almost all 200,000 students have only positive memories of t which brings together and unites young people from across the EU. The programme gives supp funding to British students for life-changing experiences. The opportunity to live abroad another culture is one that makes students more employable and greatly helps develop their understanding of what now is a globalised society. Currently, there are over 125,000 EU st in the UK (including those studying in Britain for their entire degree), which generates o for the British economy and has created around 19,000 jobs. As well as this, the EU provid of funding for British universities which undeniably ensures strong backing for academic r UK. The benefits of EU membership by no means end there when it comes to higher education. Bri scientific research has stagnated for a number of years now, while funding through the EU institution the EU puts great emphasis on scientific research with its multifaceted import The significance of science is not limited to technological advancement (although that is also important for the economy. Science is a vitally important industry because it’s capab large numbers of jobs and has the ability to relieve economic stress through successful in US can be used to prove this. Despite their emphasis on a laissez faire style of governmen fund their national science programme to the sum of over € 5 billion annually. With the su paid jobs and innovation scientific research achieves, a Google search alone will present showing the positive returns on research investment. The main example of EU funded scienti and innovation is called ‘Horizon 2020’, which enjoys € 80 billion in funding. The aim is economic growth and create jobs. The European Commission also state that an aim of the pro ensure Europe produces world-class science” and will “remove barriers to innovation and ma the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.” Scientists from work together to innovate in a scientific hub 20% more productive than that of the US’ (ac Bank Data), something academics across the UK will benefit from greatly. With the EU’s aim climate change British participation in EU funded scientific developments will not only sh but also the environment that we live in. If the UK were to leave the EU, the likelihood is that some sort of restriction to migrati introduced by the British government; as it is one of the key arguments for ‘Brexit’. That definitely lead to the UK’s exclusion from these EU programmes much like in the case of Sw was after a Swiss vote to apply quotas on immigrants as well as preferentially giving jobs over foreigners was passed. After their referendum results were released they were demoted country’ status by the EU. This removed their ability to coordinate EU projects, compete f Research Council grants, or gain access to small business and mobility grants. This could both British higher education and British scientific research, although there would in the funds “saved” from the UK’s total EU contributions. Funding would then come directly from government on an yet to be determined scale.  The main issue would be however that even if find partnerships elsewhere they would most probably exist at a smaller scale, lessening t British academics and students currently have. Considering the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics calculat scenario of a 2.2% GDP loss (and a worst-case resembling the global financial crisis again is beyond likely that funding for higher education and scientific research would suffer if vote ‘leave’. To paraphrase Charles Darwin: in the history of humankind those who have col effectively have prevailed. Will Chamberlain studies BA History at the University of Essex, UK, and is currently study he enjoys travel, sport, history, and experiencing new cultures. As well as this, he enjoy for iForum to gain experience and improve his skills in journalism, as well as meet other