UK universities back vote to stay in the EU

UK universities have joined together to campaign for staying in the EU ahead of this summer’s referendum.

Universities UK, which represents the views of 133 universities in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland is leading the Universities for Europe campaign, encouraging both students and non-students to remain in the EU.

Their campaign website explains they believe the UK’s membership of the European Union makes our universities stronger.

They say: “There is strong support across universities for EU membership. The EU has a positive impact on our universities. It enhances university research and teaching and contributes to economic growth. It helps universities create employable graduates and make cutting-edge research discoveries.

“It is not just a self-serving argument: strong universities benefit the British people and help secure the UK’s future prosperity. They make an important contribution to the economy, society and individuals in the UK by educating our future workforce, providing the next generation with the right skills and insights to succeed in a global, knowledge-based economy. They pursue ground-breaking research and generate new knowledge and understanding, driving the innovation which leads to job creation, growth and cultural benefits.”

This guy probably doesn’t want you to leave the EU either

103 of the universities represented by Universities UK signed an open letter to the Sunday Times last month explaining their argument.

In it, they said: “While no-one is suggesting that UK universities could not survive outside the EU, leaving would mean cutting ourselves off from unique support and established networks and would undermine the UK’s position as a global leader in science, arts and innovation.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that leaving the EU could risk the involvement of UK students in the Erasmus+ exchange programme. Over 200,000 UK students have studied and worked abroad through Erasmus, and those who do have been shown to be 50 per cent less likely to experience long-term unemployment.

When asked why remaining in the EU would benefit students specifically, a spokesperson for the campaign said: “Membership of the EU gives UK students the chance to live and study abroad in another European country, it means that in the UK our students can live and learn alongside students from Europe, and it means they are taught by some of the leading teachers and tutors from the EU.

“It gives students a more global perspective, and the opportunity to understand different countries and cultures and to build networks and friendships that last a lifetime.”

The EU referendum is on 23 June. Make sure you’re registered to vote before the big day.