4 Reasons for UK Universities to be Optimistic Post-Brexit

Nunzio Quacquarelli, CEO of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, publisher of the QS World University Rankings, comments on the decision of UK voters to leave the European Union:

Research recently conducted by QS found that UK students stood firmly against Brexit, with 56% of those surveyed believing that the UK leaving the European Union will have detrimental effects on their career prospects.  Many educators in UK higher education also opposed Brexit, for fear of cuts in research funding and reduced access to talented EU faculty and students.

Whilst I think it is regrettable that the UK could not renegotiate terms with the EU to enable our ongoing membership, I remain optimistic that UK universities will continue to thrive within the global higher education industry, as long as the UK government provides the support they need.

Let me give you four reasons why I remain optimistic about the prospects of UK universities.

Firstly, UK universities have established standards of excellence in research which are recognized around the world. There are currently four UK universities within the top 10 of the QS World University Rankings, and the UK is second only to the US in terms of numbers of universities within the top 200. Although there will be reductions in European Union research funding (£687m annually – European Research Council), it is my belief that a responsible UK government will understand the importance of a world-class higher education system to the UK economy (worth approximately £40bn in GDP – Universities UK) and will make up much of this shortfall in research funding.

Secondly, the UK attracts international students from around the world (436,000 in 2014/15, of which 124,000 were from the EU – HESA) and again is second only to the US in terms of numbers of international students recruited. Demand amongst EU students to study in the UK would reduce if they have to start paying international fees, but total revenue from EU students may actually increase. At the same time students from the rest of the world may find new visa rules to be more favorable under a rational points-based system which favors well-qualified master’s and PhD students and eases the rights of the well-qualified to stay and work in the UK. The LEAVE campaign has used Canadian and Australian systems as a template for new visa rules and both countries have favorable conditions for international students. Visa changes, combined with a sustained weakness in the sterling exchange rate could lead to windfall gains for UK universities.

Thirdly, and a related point, is that a new points-based visa system should make it easier for UK universities to attract the brightest young post-docs and faculty from anywhere in the world and not just the EU – a talent pool which has been frozen out by recent UK visa regulations.

Finally, QS research also shows that 67% of employers globally prefer students with international experience. UK universities should feel compelled to establish more international collaborations and study abroad opportunities around the world. Opening up these opportunities for UK students in Asia and other regions can only be a good thing for their career readiness. Ironically, few UK students took advantage of EU membership in the form of Erasmus exchanges. We may even see greater interest amongst UK students in taking exchanges and internships in the EU now they realize they have to make an effort to retain the cultural ties which have been a principle benefit of the EU.

So if the UK government follows through on commitments made repeatedly during this campaign by Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and other members of the LEAVE campaign, UK universities may not face the apocalypse so many fear.