Avenue Autumn 2019

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Principal of the University Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli argues that the UK must keep the closest possible relations with the EU on education and research.

Looking around the situation in Europe can be an uncomfortable experience for those who believe in inclusive, open and progressive societies.

The rise of populism in many countries and a growing disregard for evidence-based policymaking is worrying, particularly for those of us working in universities with a mission to advance our collective knowledge base and to work collaboratively to meet the problems our societies face.

There is no doubt that the long economic crisis has played a role in creating widespread dissatisfaction and social conflict. The question now is how will we succeed in reproducing economic growth in our countries, and how will universities contribute to building new leadership in business, in public administration, in science and culture?

I am clear that there can only be one answer. Universities must serve as a bridge across the various cultures within Europe. They must offer up their vast experience for the common good, steer democratic debate towards the most salient questions of this seminal moment, provide leadership that responds to the challenges that come with the new models created by the digital economy, and fight tooth and nail against scepticism towards the values of knowledge and learning.

Universities in Europe are bastions of excellence, internationalism and multiculturalism. They act not just as anchor institutions in our communities but as platforms to help create more solid relationships across borders and to strengthen shared European values, with thousands of students and alumni offering a level of soft power rarely seen in other organisations.

At the University of Glasgow, we have played our part in the discovery of gravitational waves, the fight against Zika and in pioneering the field of precision medicine, which promises a genuine revolution in healthcare.

And similar innovations with world-changing results are happening at institutions right across Europe. But they rarely happen in isolation – they require the best and the brightest from across the continent to be able to work together as part of pan-European networks or to cross borders to work with the leading teams in their fields.

It is vital for the future of the university sector that Europe continues to forge a collaborative approach to research and study.

The scale of the collective challenges facing us in the 21st century, ranging from inequality to climate change to healthy ageing, is too great for any country to go it alone. We will only succeed by meeting these challenges head-on with a common resolve. To attempt to do otherwise is an admission of defeat before having even begun, and a complete abdication of responsibility, for which future generations will never forgive us.

Our mission as universities is clear. To use our influence and expertise to ensure the great European promise is fulfilled, regardless of the political circumstances in our home countries. The future of Europe may just depend on it.

This article was first published in 'The Daily Telegraph', 18 March 2019.