Sunday Times letter and signatories
Dear Sir,
Now that the Prime Minister has announced the referendum date, we urge the British public to consider the vital role the EU plays in supporting our world-class universities. Inside the EU, we are better able to collaborate with partners from across Europe to carry out cutting edge research, from medical and healthcare advances, to new materials, products and services. In the EU, the UK is also a more attractive destination for global talent, ensuring that our students are taught by the best minds from across Europe. This has a direct impact on our economy, driving growth, generating jobs and ultimately improving people’s lives.
While no-one is suggesting that UK universities could not survive outside the EU, leaving would mean cutting ourselves off from unique support and established networks and would undermine the UK’s position as a global leader in science, arts and innovation.
Throughout the referendum campaign, as university leaders, we are committed to highlighting the value of EU membership to our universities, ensuring that a range of views are heard on campuses, and debating why the EU matters to the British people, now and for the future.
Yours
1. Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, President, Universities UK; Vice-Chancellor, University of Kent
2. Professor Janet Beer, Vice-President, UniversitiesUK; Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool
3. Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-President, Universities UK; Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University
4. Professor Sir Pete Downes, Vice-President, Universities UK; Vice-Chancellor, University of Dundee
5. Professor Simon Gaskell, Treasurer, Universities UK; President and Principal, Queen Mary University of London
6. Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge
7. Professor Robert J. Allison, Vice-Chancellor, Loughborough University
8. Baroness Valerie Amos, Director, SOAS
9. Shirley Atkinson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sunderland
10. Professor Michael Arthur , President and Provost , UCL
11. Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor, Southampton Solent University
12. Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading
13. Professor Cliff Allan, Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University
14. Professor Paul Boyle CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester
15. Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol
16. Professor Chris Brink, Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University
17. Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Vice-Chancellor, Aston University
18. Professor Anthony Bowne, Principal, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
19. Professor Julia Buckingham, Vice-Chancellor, Brunel University London
20. Professor Sir Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sheffield
21. Professor Ed Byrne, Principal and President, Kings College London
22. Professor Craig Calhoun, Director and President, London School of Economics and Political Science
23. Nigel Carrington, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Arts London
24. Professor Joy Carter, Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester
25. Professor John Cater, Vice-Chancellor, Edge Hill University
26. Professor Aldwyn Cooper, Vice-Chancellor, Regent’s University
27. Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor, Durham University
28. Professor Paul Croney, Vice-Chancellor, Teesside University
29. Professor Bob Cryan CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Huddersfield
30. Professor Sir Paul Curran, Vice-Chancellor, City University London
31. Professor Richard B Davies, Vice-Chancellor, Swansea University
32. Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Aberdeen
33. Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham
34. Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex
35. Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University
36. Professor Anthony Forster, Vice-Chancellor, University of Essex
37. Professor Alice Gast, President, Imperial College London
38. Professor Pamela Gillies CBE, Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University
39. Professor David Green, Vice-Chancellor, University of Worcester
40. Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham
41. Professor Michael Gunn, Vice-Chancellor, Staffordshire University
42. Professor Gavin Henderson CBE, Principal, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
43. Professor Jenny Higham, Principal, St. George’s, University of London
44. Peter Horrocks CBE, Vice-Chancellor, The Open University
45. Professor Margaret House, Vice-Chancellor, Leeds Trinity University
46. Professor John Hughes, Vice-Chancellor, Bangor University
47. Professor Debra Humphris Vice-Chancellor, University of Brighton
48. Professor Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University
49. Professor Barry Ife CBE, Principal, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
50. Professor Tom Inns, Director, The Glasgow School of Art
51. Professor Patrick Johnston, Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast
52. Professor John Joughin, Vice-Chancellor, University of East London
53. Professor Michael J Kearney, Acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Surrey
54. Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds
55. Prof John Latham, Vice-Chancellor, Coventry University
56. Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor,University of Wolverhampton
57. Professor Paul Layzell, Principal, Royal HollowayUniversity of London
58. Professor Patrick Loughrey, Warden, Goldsmiths, University of London
59. Professor Julie Lydon OBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of South Wales
60. Professor David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor, University of Greenwich
61. Professor Craig Mahoney, Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of Scotland
62. Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor, University of Salford
63. Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gloucestershire
64. Professor Gerry McCormac, Vice-Chancellor, University of Stirling
65. Professor April McMahon, Vice-Chancellor,Aberystwyth University
66. Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice-Chancellor, Keele University
67. Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby
68. Prof Clive Mulholland, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of the Highlands and Islands
69. Professor Anton Muscatelli, Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow
70. Professor Paddy Nixon, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ulster
71. Professor Andrea Nolan OBE, Vice-Chancellor, Edinburgh Napier University
72. Professor Timothy O’Shea, Vice-Chancellor, University of Edinburgh
73. Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor, Nottingham Trent University
74. Professor Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor,University of Northampton
75. Professor Judith Petts, Vice-Chancellor, University of Plymouth
76. Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor, London South Bank University
77. Professor Gerald Pilay, Vice-Chancellor, Liverpool Hope University
78. Professor Peter Piot, Director, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
79. Professor Calie Pistorius, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hull
80. Professor Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University
81. Professor John Raftery, Vice-Chancellor, London Metropolitan University
82. Bill Rammell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bedfordshire
83. Professor Stuart Reid, Principal, The Royal Veterinary College
84. Professor David Richardson, Vice-Chancellor, University of East Anglia
85. Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor,University of Oxford
86. Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham
87. Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor, De Montfort University
88. Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University
89. Professor Sir Adrian Smith, Vice-Chancellor, University of London
90. Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton
91. Professor Karen Stanton, Vice-Chancellor, York St John University
92. Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor, University of Exeter
93. Professor Peter Strike, Vice Chancellor, University of Cumbria
94. Professor Mary Stuart, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lincoln
95. Professor Mike Thomas, Vice-Chancellor,University of Central Lancashire
96. Dr Paul Thompson, Rector, Royal College of Art
97. Professor Graham Upton, Vice-Chancellor, Glyndwr University
98. Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor, Bournemouth University
99. Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor, University of Northumbria
100. Professor Nigel Weatherill, Vice-Chancellor, Liverpool John Moores University
101. Professor Steven West, Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of England
102. Professor Julius Weinberg, Vice-Chancellor, Kingston University
103. Professor Richard Williams OBE, Vice-Chancellor, Herriot-Watt University