OxRSS recommendations on Brexit & Research
The aim of this one-day meeting on 23 February 2018 was to discuss the issues that ought to be considered in the Brexit negotiations to ensure high-quality research continues in Oxford.
The 5,000 - 6,000 members of research staff at Oxford are the most diverse group within the University of Oxford, and many raised concerns following the Brexit referendum vote. These concerns include how to recruit the best students and staff from around the world, future research funding, regulation and international collaborations.
We are very grateful to the speakers, the OxRSS team for the organisation of the day, and to the Vice-Chancellor, each Division, St John's College, All Souls College, Wadham College, Hertford College and Oxentia for sponsoring the event.
OxRSS Recommendations
The Collegiate University:
- Offer initiatives that demonstrate that international staff and students are warmly welcomed and valued at Oxford.
- Provide greater support to research staff who wish to apply for settled status, permanent residency and nationalisation e.g. legal, financial and human resources to assist with completing applications.
- Consider new mechanisms and collaborations to drive growth at the local, national and international levels to provide greater support for innovation to drive economic growth.
- Market ourselves as having global connections and power, and as a provider of education, training and jobs supporting the local and national economy, especially related to spin-out companies, industrial collaborations, and the NHS.
The University lobby government for:
- A higher priority for Universities, Research and Innovation in the Brexit negotiations.
- A migration system that enables Oxford to continue attracting and recruiting the best staff and students and their families from around the world easily and cost-effectively.
- The inclusion of ‘research workers’ in the list of highly skilled occupations for future migration systems.
- The framework for future UK-EU relationship include a comprehensive chapter on academic cooperation, so that world-class collaborative research with colleagues from around the world can continue e.g. Framework Programme 9 and the successor to Horizon 2020.
- Enhanced support for international research collaborations. UK universities should be able to continue coordinating and hosting collaborative European projects and infrastructures, and to influence future research agendas.
- The preservation and improvement of regulatory standards between the UK, EU and non-EU countries, facilitating the continuance of international research collaborations.
Research staff are encouraged to:
- Join European movement groups to establish and maintain connections and support during the Brexit negotiations.
- Share their experiences relating to Brexit and international collaborations, so that informed discussions can take place with all key stakeholders. In the first instance please contact OxRSS Chair (Voice).