The Importance of cooperation between German and British universities
Despite the difficult circumstances, British universities will continue to number among Germany’s most important science partners
Prof. Alt (President of HRK)
German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) is the association of public and government-recognised universities in Germany representing and acting as a voice of the German Higher education and research sector.
In a recent statement released by HRK, the President of HRK, Professor Dr Peter-André Alt, expressed fears over the withdrawal of Erasmus+ and exit of the UK from the EU that will impact well established British-German relationship.
The United Kingdom is one of the three most important destinations for German students together with Austria and the Netherlands. There were 15,300 German students studying at British universities in 2018 according to figures from the German Federal Statistical Office. The UK is important for German academics who work at British universities and those academics who cooperate with British colleagues. Currently, HRK’s Higher Education Compass lists over 1,600 partnerships between German and British universities.
The loss of these relationships would be difficult for both countries as the United Kingdom will no longer participate in the Erasmus+ programme that enables student mobility. The UK will still participate in other EU programmes, such as the Horizon Europe research funding programme.
Already, more than 2 years ago, the president of HRK Alt and its British counterpart Universities UK represented by professor Dame Janet Beer, met to discuss how to maintain the cooperation in mobility and exchange and research post-Brexit.
Now, it is vital to establish strong foundations to continue the relationship in spite of the hardship of Brexit as stated by president Alt: “Despite the difficult circumstances, British universities will continue to number among Germany’s most important science partners.”
Maintaining and establishing relationships in the educational sector and research between individual EU countries and the UK might be an alternative that will require hard work but hopefully will result in stronger and innovative opportunities and cooperation that will be beneficial for all students, academics, and universities.
