European university leaders call for continued collaboration after Brexit vote

University leaders from 24 European countries, including Germany and France, signed a joint statement in July 2016 to stress the importance of continued European university collaboration following the UK's vote to leave the EU in June 2016.​

The statement – from representative organisations of universities and national rectors' conferences from across Europe – highlighted the importance of international cooperation and exchange and says that universities are strongest when they tackle issues collaboratively.

While acknowledging that, following the outcome of the UK's referendum, the UK will develop a new relationship with the EU, it calls for continued 'research and exchange relationships between Europe's universities, for the benefit of people across the continent'.

Dame Julia Goodfellow, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent, said: 'This is a welcome statement from our European partners. While we know the referendum result will have no immediate effect on the UK's participation in EU research and exchange programmes, it is important that we get long-term guarantees that the UK will continue to benefit from opportunities to collaborate with partners on ground-breaking research. We are determined that the UK university sector will remain a welcoming destination, open and internationally engaged and a high-quality partner of choice'.

Rolf Tarrach, President of the European University Association, said: 'Given the strength of the UK's research base, isolating the UK from European cooperation structures would not just have negative consequences for the UK, it would also undermine the profile and impact of European research more widely. It is through working together within a united, European knowledge community that universities can achieve the best outcomes and tackle the big challenges'.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

Universities UK: Universities for Europe http://www.universitiesforeurope.com/Pages/Home.aspx

ESO: Background information: EU students and staff welcome at Welsh Universities http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-students-and-staff-welcome-at-swansea-university-kirsty-williams-eu-students-and-staff-welcome-at-welsh-universities/

ESO: Background information: The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results/

http://www.eua.be/ http://www.eua.be/

EUA: Press Release, 22.07.16: Universities UK Statement: European university leaders call for continued collaboration after Brexit vote http://www.eua.be/activities-services/news/newsitem/2016/07/22/universities-uk-statement-european-university-leaders-call-for-continued-collaboration-after-brexit-vote

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