Pembroke Hosts the First Public Evidence Session for Impact of Brexit on Higher Education Inquiry

Pembroke College was delighted to be the venue for the Education Committee’s first evidence session of its inquiry on the impact of exiting the European Union on higher education, which took place on 11th January 2017. The backdrop for the event was the Harold Lee Room in Pembroke College, which overlooks the College’s historic Chapel Quad and the modern Rokos Quad.

The panel was comprised of diverse voices from a range of UK universities, including the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes, the University of Cambridge, Coventry University and the LSE. Notably, the panel included Professor Alastair Buchan, who was recently appointed Head of Brexit Strategy within the University of Oxford and will take up this post on 20th January 2017.

The purpose of the session was for MPs to hear first-hand from those in the sector and consider the strategies of universities in handling the impact of brexit. Panellists were questioned about the risks involved and opportunities afforded by leaving the EU as well as the main priorities of the higher education sector in this process. Alongside the uncertainties about fee increases for students from EU countries, questions were also raised about the freedom of movement of staff and the consequences of brexit for academic exchange, teaching and research.

Speakers voiced their concerns over the “disastrous” impact that brexit would have on the flow of students coming over to study in UK universities, and expressed fears that these institutions would become “extremely uncompetitive”. 

The event was live-streamed is available to watch here. The evidence session has received widespread coverage in national press, including articles in the Guardian, the BBC and the Independent.