The All-Party Parliamentary Universities Group met at the end of October 2016 to discuss the effect that negotiations and a new deal would have on the higher education sector.
The discussion focused around concerns that students may be used as a negotiating point, the importance of ensuring continued collaboration of research, the Erasmus scheme, and finally how Brexit coupled with the Government’s focus on an Industrial Strategy could provide an opportunity for the sector.
On Wednesday 29 March 2017, the Prime Minister triggered Article 50. As the Government turns to the negotiations it will be seeking to minimise any turbulence and maximise opportunities.
With this historic moment now having taken place, the officers of the group felt that it would be useful to hear opinions from different political parties on a few of the key issues for the sector over the negotiation period and beyond. They wished to present these to all members of the University APPG and to the wider interest public to help inform discussion.
These essays are written by Alison Thewliss MP, Flick Drummond MP and Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP.