An open letter from 96 Vice Chancellors on why you should vote to remain

In a letter printed today, the leaders of nearly 100 UK universities are urging people to vote remain for the good of education and for the students.

To British voters,

As Vice-Chancellors of 96 universities, we are gravely concerned about the impact of a UK exit from the EU on our universities and students.

The impact of our universities on our local communities and economy should not be underestimated. Every year, universities generate over £73 billion for the UK economy – £3.7bn of which is generated by students from EU countries, while supporting nearly 380,000 jobs. Strong universities benefit the British people – creating employable graduates and cutting-edge research discoveries that improve lives.

Our membership of the EU enhances this positive impact and makes our outstanding universities even stronger. Inside the EU, we are better able to work collaboratively on ground-breaking research in areas from cancer to climate change. EU membership supports British universities to attract the brightest and best minds from across Europe, enhancing university research and teaching and contributing to economic growth.

Voluntarily cutting ourselves out of the world’s largest economic bloc would undermine our position as a global leader in science and innovation, impoverish our campuses and limit opportunities for British people.

We believe that leaving Europe would create a difficult environment for the long-term investment in higher education and research that is necessary for the UK to maintain its position as a highly skilled and a globally competitive knowledge economy.

For us it is crystal clear that our outstanding universities – and our students – are stronger in Europe.

Signatories

1. Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kent

2. Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading

3. Professor Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool

4. Professor Julie Lydon OBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of South Wales

5. Professor Colin Riordan, President and Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University

6. Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow

7. Professor Paul O’Prey, Vice-Chancellor, University of Roehampton

8. Professor Simon Gaskell, President and Principal, Queen Mary University of London

9. Professor Julia Buckingham, Vice-Chancellor, Brunel University London

10. Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor, University of Exeter

11. Professor Steve West, Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Office, University of the West of England

12. Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice- Chancellor, The University of Nottingham

13. Nigel Carrington, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Arts London

14. Professor David Phoenix OBE, Vice-Chancellor, London South Bank University

15. Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton

16. Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor, University of Salford

17. Dr Paul Thompson, Rector, Royal College of Art

18. John Latham, Vice-Chancellor, Coventry University

19. Professor Aldwyn Cooper, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Regent’s University London

20. Professor Peter Piot, Director, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

21. Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Edinburgh Napier University

22. Professor Barry Ife, Principal, Guildhall School of Music and Drama

23. Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University

24. Professor Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University

25. Professor David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor, University of Greenwich

26. Professor Sir Paul Curran, Vice-Chancellor, City University London

27. Professor Karen Stanton, Vice-Chancellor, York St John University

28. Professor Robert Allison, Vice-Chancellor and President, Loughborough University

29. Professor Anthony Bowne, Principal, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

30. Professor Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor, Anglia Ruskin University

31. Professor Bob Cryan CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Huddersfield

32. Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor, De Montfort University

33. Professor Patrick Johnston, Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast

34. Professor April McMahon, Vice-Chancellor, Aberystwyth University

35. Bill Rammell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Bedfordshire

36. Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor, Nottingham Trent University

37. Professor Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University

38. Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gloucestershire

39. Professor Edward Byrne, President and Principal, King’s College London

40. Professor John Joughin, Vice-Chancellor, University of East London

41. Professor Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds

42. Baroness Valerie Amos CH, Director, SOAS University of London

43. Professor Gavin Henderson CBE, Principal, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

44. Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Northumbria University

45. Patrick Loughrey, Warden, Goldsmiths University of London

46. Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Strathclyde

47. Dr Maria Hinfelaar, Vice-Chancellor, Glyndwr University

48. Professor Mary Stuart, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lincoln

49. Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford

50. Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor, Middlesex University

51. Professor Paul Boyle, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester

52. Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham

53. Professor Peter John, Vice-Chancellor, University of West London

54. Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby

55. Professor Peter Strike, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cumbria

56. Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice-Chancellor, Keele University

57. Professor Richard A Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University

58. Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge

59. Professor Stuart Reid, Principal, Royal Veterinary College University of London

60. Professor Julius Weinberg, Vice-Chancellor, Kingston University London

61. Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor, Durham University

62. Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal, The University of Edinburgh

63. Professor Paul Croney, Vice-Chancellor, Teesside University

64. Professor Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Northampton

65. Professor Mark Smith, Vice-Chancellor, Lancaster University

66. Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex

67. Professor Richard B. Davies, Vice-Chancellor, Swansea University

68. Professor Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University

69. Professor Jenny Higham, Principal, St George’s, University of London

70. Professor Geoffrey Petts, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Westminster

71. Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor, Southampton Solent University

72. Professor Michael Arthur, President and Provost, University College London

73. Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton

74. Professor John Hughes, Vice-Chancellor, Bangor University

75. Professor Petra Wend, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Queen Mary University Edinburgh

76. Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Bristol

77. Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor, Aston University

78. Professor Michael Thomas, Vice-Chancellor, University of Central Lancashire

79. Professor David Richardson, Vice-Chancellor, University of East Anglia

80. Professor Paul Layzell, Vice-Chancellor, Royal Holloway, University of London

81. Professor Keith Burnett, Vice Chancellor and President, University of Sheffield

82. Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice Chancellor, University of the West of Scotland

83. Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor, University of Birmingham

84. Professor Nigel Weatherill, Vice-Chancellor, Liverpool John Moores University

85. Professor John Raftery, Vice-Chancellor, London Metropolitan University

86. Professor Gerald Pillay, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Liverpool Hope University

87. Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Stirling

88. Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Vice-Chancellor, University of Aberdeen

89. Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University

90. Professor Calie Pistorius, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hull

91. Professor Craig Calhoun, Vice-Chancellor, London School of Economics and Political Science

92. Professor David Green, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Worcester

93. Professor Judith Petts, Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive, University of Plymouth

94. Professor Sir Andrew Likierman, Dean, London Business School

95. Shirley Atkinson, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Sunderland

96. Professor Liz Barnes, Vice Chancellor, Staffordshire University.