Dear colleague,
As you will be aware, the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 January 2020. The UK Parliament has now passed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and it looks likely that we will see a transition period from the 31 January until 31 December 2020. In this period, the UK will cease to be an EU member but will continue to follow its rules. We are then likely to see additional UK-EU negotiations on the shape of our future relationship.
I recognise that this will continue to be an unsettling time for many members of our University community and I would ask each of you to be aware of, and sensitive to, the impact it may have on others who work and study here.
Advice on travel, procurement and funding remains unchanged and our Brexit web pages contain a range of information and guidance for both staff and students.
I would like to reiterate our commitment to being an international centre of research and teaching excellence and to cherish the diversity this brings. One of the ways we are demonstrating this is by setting up an International Staff Reference Group to better understand the needs of our international staff, and to ensure that our processes and procedures are fit for purpose in the global environment. More information on this will be available over the next few days.
In the meantime, we will be monitoring events very closely and keeping you updated as both the situation, and our response, develops.
With kind regards,
Professor Ian White
Vice-Chancellor and President