I will remark on the Prime Minister’s speech. It was possibly a bit of a mixed bag for us. There were some useful suggestions of direction, but we would really want to see what is delivered.
Universities are obviously absolutely dependent on the free flow of both student talent and staff talent across borders. We were enormously pleased earlier this week when the First Minister and Ms Somerville came to our event to say that Scotland’s universities welcome the world and that we are committed to being as open as possible to the movement of international talent. The Prime Minister said something useful in that regard when she said that we want to
“continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in Britain—indeed openness to international talent must remain one of this country’s most distinctive assets”.
We really want to see that delivered. There is quite a difficult dynamic when, on the one hand there is that statement of openness and, on the other hand, following Amber Rudd’s speech to the Conservative conference, there is also still a dynamic that seems to be heading in the direction of having a more restrictive attitude to the migration of the talent that sustains our universities.
Similarly, on the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK, I think that I have said before in this forum how difficult it is for university leaders who are approached by staff from EU nations, who have often been resident in Scotland for a long time and who ask, “Look, I do not know what my family’s entitlements will be in future, not just to stay but to access public services. Will I still be able to use the health service on the same basis as a UK citizen? What happens to my kids going to school?” and so on.
The Prime Minister said something useful when she said that she wanted
“to guarantee the rights of EU citizens who are already living in Britain”.
I would like to see that computised. What does that mean in terms of rights not just to stay but to access public services? In addition, what will it mean for our ability to attract staff from the EU? When universities run a competition to get the best possible staff for a role, they already face the problem that staff from the EU are having to think very seriously about whether to take up an offer from a university in the UK. There is certainly anecdotal evidence that some people are saying, “I do not know enough about what my entitlements would be to make that choice on behalf of myself and my family.”
A third element on which I think that there was a hint of going in the right direction, which again needs to be followed through, is research collaboration with the EU. I think that I have said before in this forum that horizon 2020—not just the money but particularly sustaining relationships of collaboration with our neighbours—has been really important for the excellence of universities in Scotland. The Prime Minister indicated that she was open to an agreement to continue to collaborate with her European partners on science, research and technology. One would want to see that built on in a concrete way. Does it mean that, potentially, the UK Government is prepared to buy in to horizon 2020 and support the real density of academic collaboration that exists throughout the EU?
10:30