Lots of discussion on #Erasmus, and rightly so. It is close to my heart, as a former participant (Lille, France), and the coordinator of a Uni department that expanded to take full advantage for our students (22 countries, 100+ going each year). /1
It was always a risk it would be lost, even with assurances by Johnson as recently as this year (see @AlexTaylorNews). May's 'red line' on free movement set the tone: Erasmus cannot be fully separated. I wrote as much in 2017. /2 timeshighereducation.com/blog/uk-studen… @timeshighered
As the risk of 'no deal' loomed in 2017, I returned to this theme. On both these occasions, I faced Brexiter criticism for (a) suggesting that it would/could end (b) it is not that important and (c) 'Global Britain' means students can go elsewhere. /3 prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/what-wou…
The announcement of a 'Turing scheme' is welcome, but if this is due to objections to cost of Erasmus then it is doomed to failure. The 'Global Britain' study abroad scheme has been mooted for 2+ years, and not much has happened at all. /4 timeshighereducation.com/blog/plan-stud… @timeshighered
If #Eramsus is unacceptable to the UK due to cost, difficult to see how new scheme will help the less well-off students. Are they going to be able to fly themselves and live in countries much further away without the financial support that was integral to Erasmus? /5
As an education policy, the benefits of Erasmus cannot be understated, nor easily replicated. The impact on academic performance and skills the UK badly needs (esp since free movement ends) will be harmed. I analysed the impact on academic performance: /6 tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.108…
Fortunately, students in Northern Ireland may still be able to participate. But for the mainland UK and the vast majority of students - who were too young to vote in the referendum - this is a loss, not of their making. /END
https://twitter.com/nealerichmond/status/1342148650512900098
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