Gavin Newland urges UK Government to explain what Brexit will mean for UWS
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has used a speech in Parliament to demand that the UK Government provides more clarity about the effect that Brexit will have on our universities, including on The University of the West of Scotland.
Scotland’s higher education institutions contribute over £6 billion to our national economy and Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal at Edinburgh University, has said that the potential impact of Brexit on higher education ranges from “bad, to awful, to catastrophic.”
Mr Newlands criticised the UK Government for failing to plan for Brexit and has called on the UK Government to clarify what exiting the EU will mean for vital research funding, recruitment of international students and providing exchange opportunities for domestic students.
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:
“People are well aware of the positive contribution that our international students make to Paisley. UWS has 1,393 international students studying on their campuses and not only do they help improve the experience of our domestic students, but they also internationalise our communities.
“The majority of our international students come to Paisley through the Erasmus programme. Erasmus also provides domestic students with the opportunity to study at a university in Europe.
“However, these vital opportunities are seriously under threat from Brexit. In addition, it remains unclear what impact Brexit will have on universities’ ability to attract vital research funding.
“Whereas other countries are presenting ever strong ‘open for business’ messages, the UK is at risk of being perceived as an unwelcoming location that does not value the contribution of international students, colleagues and partnerships.
“The UK Government has to start providing clarity about what effect Brexit is going to have on our universities, including on The University of the West of Scotland.”
