Student leaders from Ireland, the UK and Northern Ireland all today jointly condemned the detrimental impact on higher education of the uncertainty around the UK’s exit from the EU.
In a joint statement at a student summit in London today, the National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI) President, Olivia Potter-Hughes, National Union of Students (NUS) President Shakira Martin and Union of Students Ireland (USI) President Michael Kerrigan strongly condemned the impact of the chaotic Brexit talks and the stalemate on devolution talks on students in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland has been without an executive since the resignation of the late Martin McGuinness triggered an election in January. As Brexit talks continue, student leaders in Northern Ireland have become increasingly concerned by the apparent “lack of planning” of British ministers leading the negotiations. This has seen important matters regarding the status of the border and student fees largely ignored.
In their statement today, the leaders criticised the negative impact the talks have had on students so far, and called on the British government to issue assurances about its plans to bridge funding gaps once the UK leaves the EU: “Students, and others are being caught unwillingly in the chaos and uncertainty that has been imposed upon people in Northern Ireland because of Brexit, and a lack of planning by those espousing it.”
Highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the South, all three emphasised their desire to see the government actively protecting students’ rights, describing the possible impact of Brexit as “truly frightening”. The statement highlighted the damaging prospect of a hard border in particular, stating that students face enough difficulties “without education and research opportunities, as well as the job market and apprentice opportunities, potentially being decimated in Northern Ireland because of Brexit”.
They also expressed their concerns for the status of vulnerable groups including international students, students from the UK and students whose rights are enshrined within the Belfast Agreement. They called for “guarantees about a common travel area on the island of Ireland and the right to remain in the UK”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who was speaking after yesterday’s EU summit, said that there had been a frustrating lack of movement with regard the border issue.
In response to the challenges facing university students following Brexit, NUS-USI has authored a strategy paper which will aim to address the potential impact of Brexit on students in Northern Ireland.
