I think that the main thrust of the question was about the impact on staff, but naturally, as the president of the NUS, I would like to raise the concerns of students.
Mary Senior hit the nail on the head when she said the whole Brexit process has caused uncertainty, chaos and fear. I will read directly from correspondence that I received from a Danish student at a Glasgow college, who is also a part-time student representative, in order to reflect on her experiences for committee members. She said:
“I don’t have anything specific, other than the fact that I am an EU national, and I have no idea what my future looks like. Will I be able to continue studying? Will I be able to get a job after I’ve finished my studies? Will I be able to get a flat? Should I continue setting my roots here, or should I give up and go back? The worst thing is not knowing, and that there is no one to ask, as the people who decide these things don’t know either.”
I could not have put it better myself. That is an absolutely crystal clear articulation of the anthropic nature and character of this entire Brexit process.
We totally welcome and appreciate the moves that have been made by the Scottish Government on providing guarantees for tuition and, indeed, continuity of study for EU students from the next academic year. Obviously, we appreciate that it is hard, given the nature of the Brexit debate, to provide any longer-term guarantees than that. Again, I return to the approach of the UK Government and how it has handled the process so far. First, every day it changes the specifics on its stance on freedom of movement post-31 October if there is a no-deal Brexit. On the one hand, it is saying that it will end, while on the other hand it is saying that it will not. Then, even though it has said on its website that it will not end freedom of movement, it says that it is unclear. That is not helpful to students like the one I just spoke about.
Additionally, if we look at the temporary leave to remain proposal and the proposals for the tier 4 study visa, we see that the changes will reflect only a three-year period of study. That is a wider concern across the UK for people who are studying medicine or undertaking postgraduate education in every country of the UK, but in Scotland there is a specific concern because, as we all know, the four-year undergraduate degree is a central pillar—if not the central pillar—of our entire university system. If the ability of international students to engage with that four-year undergraduate degree programme is undermined, that will have a major impact on their ability to come here. I am sure that Universities Scotland shares serious concerns about that, given what it means for the financial stability and continuity of the institutions.
I am aghast at the situation that we find ourselves in. The uncertainty that has been created by the UK Government’s approach is not helpful. Indeed, Universities Scotland’s findings that were published earlier this week said that one third of institutions in Scotland are already reporting worrying trends in the level of interest from European students studying in Scottish institutions. The uncertainty is affecting everyone—not just staff, but students, too. The UK Government must do better. Any clarity that the committee can demand from the UK Government and acquire for the benefit of the wider sector would be very much appreciated.