EU Referendum: latest information for University staff

Friday, 08 July 2016

Following the result of the EU Referendum on Thursday 23 June, the University has been working to provide colleagues with information on how the UK’s departure from the EU may affect our dealings and procedures as a research-driven institution.

Updates to Staff Information page

We have updated our Information for Staff page this week to include the latest available updates from the UK Government, European Commission and Universities UK.

The European Commission and European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science has confirmed that all current Horizon 2020-funded projects will be fully honoured, and that UK institutions and researchers remain fully eligible to apply for funding from Horizon 2020.

The official statement can be read here. EU Research and Innovation Commissioner Carlos Moedas has also written a short article on this for THE, available here.

Should you have any concerns over your Horizon 2020 grant application, or if you come across any issues raised by your EU partners on your H2020 grant application as a result of the EU vote, please contact our EU Funding Managers in Research & Enterprise, Dr Mischa Phillips and Dr Elena Koukharenko.

EU Research Open Forum on Monday 18 July

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Mithen will be hosting an EU Research Open Forum on Monday 18 July at Henley Business School, G11, 1:00pm–2:00pm.

The workshop is aimed at University researchers who are either holding, applying for or planning to apply for Horizon 2020 awards. The meeting will provide colleagues with an opportunity to ask questions about the implications of Brexit in current research activity, discuss how the University can best support researchers during this period of uncertainty and how we can maintain the current momentum in the growth of EU funding being achieved.

It would be helpful to gain an idea of attendance numbers ahead of the session. To confirm your attendance, please email the Research Deans Office.

Sir David Bell joins Universities UK's informal advisory group

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell has joined an informal Vice-Chancellor advisory working group set up by Universities UK.

The group has included remit to (a) advice on developing policy positions; (b) insuring UUK has institution voice and perspective in its work; (c) sharing intelligence, evidence and information from institutions on immediate impact.

UUK has asked its member institutions to help build a base of evidence that covers:

Impact on Horizon 2020 research, innovation funding bids or current projects
Impact on ESIF funding bids or current projects
Impact on EU (or international) student recruitment or retention
Impact on EU (or international) staff recruitment or retention, academic and non-academic
Incidents of harassment of EU or international students

UEB will be speaking to Leadership Group colleagues across our Schools and Functions on these issues over the coming days.

Briefing materials in progress

Marketing, Communications and Engagement (MCE) will be producing briefing material on EU Referendum for the Leadership Group. The material will be designed primarily for use within internal briefings, and will help Schools and Functions handle questions and enquiries.

The material will be based on the briefing published on the Staff Portal and will be updated frequently in line with the latest available advice from the UK Government.

Please contact Head of News & Content Charles Heymann if you have any queries.