Brexit: Top UK universities facing issues working with European partners

Elite universities insist they will work hard to ensure UK research community continues to play a leading role in Europe

British scientists have been asked to leave research projects because EU universities fear Brexit uncertainties (Rex)

Some of the UK’s top universities have reportedly faced issues working with their European partners, including being asked to leave EU-funded projects, in the wake of the EU referendum result.

According to a confidential survey of the elite Russell Group universities carried out by the Guardian, reports of being asked to pull out of leadership roles have come from across the disciplines of the sciences and engineering as EU academics become increasingly worried about financial stability.

Prior to the referendum, leading scientists and academics had warned that leaving the EU could cause a major funding blow to British universities and scientific research.

The Russell Group – 24 of Britain’s leading universities which are committed to high-class research – acknowledged immediately after the Brexit result that it would have “a profound effect on our universities”.

Attempting to remain positive, however, the group added in a statement: “It is essential to remember that, in terms of our global outlook, nothing has changed. We have not yet left the EU and we are just as open and welcoming to students, staff, and ideas as we were before the referendum.

“We have already reassured current staff and students that their rights to work and study here will continue for the foreseeable future, and we can still participate in cross-European collaborations and bid for EU funding. We are already working closely with the Government to ensure the best possible outcome from upcoming negotiations and UK policy decisions for universities and the research community.”

The Universities Minister, Jo Johnson, also sought to quell concerns over the EU framework programme for research and innovation, also known as Horizon 2020. He said: “The referendum result has no immediate effect on those applying to or participating in Horizon 2020. UK researchers and businesses can continue to apply to the programme in the usual way.”

The Russell Group further said it would be working hard to ensure the UK research community continues to play a leading role in Europe and around the world.

The news has come shortly after BBC Newsnight reported that European academic bodies were “pulling back” from research collaboration with UK academics amid uncertainty after the Brexit result. The programme said it was aware of concerns raised by academics at the prestigious Oxbridge universities, as well as the universities of Bristol, Exeter, and Durham.

While some of the universities said to be affected told The Independent it was too early to provide detailed comment, one said that, although leaving the EU was not something it had wished or campaigned for, it will be working to address the challenges – and identify opportunities – that now exist for universities.

Univeristies outside the Russell Group are also concerned at the effect of Brexit. Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University told Newsnight that, of 12 projects it had been working on, four European collaborators have said they feel the UK should no longer be a partner “because they don’t have confidence in what the future is going to hold”.

Professor Husbands added: “It’s not where we are now and, in that uncertainty, people are making decisions about what might happen. Like all people planning for the future, they’re planning on a worst-case scenario.” Additional reporting by Press Association