We’re rejoining the Horizon programme….

Hoorah! Not being part of this European joint research progranmme has seriously affected the capacity for British universities to work with research groups in Europe.

It also cost DD her job. She worked for a big British science research centre writing research proposals for Horizon projects so when we pulled out of the Horizon programme, bang went her job.

Not that she is repining. Before she had even worked out her notice, she had applied for and got a much more interesting and better paid job in a different profession and since then has flown.

Now we need the government to find a way ofbecoming part of the Erasmus programme again, so that our post-graduates can benefit from studying elsewhere in Europe and European post graduates can flood back to the UK.

Slowly, slowly, all these disastrous unforeseen (and foreseen) consequences of Brexit are being reversed. With a bit of luck we will soon be back in Europe in all but name.

With a bit of luck we will soon be back in Europe in all but name.

Bring it on!

I sincerely hope so.

Erasmus was available to undergrads too, and I taught many lovely students from all over Europe as a result. UK students could apply too, although they tended not to have the language skills to take advantage. Some universities (eg ones in Cyprus) teach in English, however, so they could widen their horizons by going there.

For those not familiar with the Erasmus scheme, it allows students to take a semester (usually half an academic year) in another European university and get the credits towards their home degree.

Gradually unpicking the Brexit disaster…..

Doodledog

I sincerely hope so.

Erasmus was available to undergrads too, and I taught many lovely students from all over Europe as a result. UK students could apply too, although they tended not to have the language skills to take advantage. Some universities (eg ones in Cyprus) teach in English, however, so they could widen their horizons by going there.

For those not familiar with the Erasmus scheme, it allows students to take a semester (usually half an academic year) in another European university and get the credits towards their home degree.

Braverman took part in the Erasmus scheme I believe….

Blinko

^With a bit of luck we will soon be back in Europe in all but name.^

Bring it on!

Fingers crossed

Good isn’t it?

I was reading today that bit by bit we are getting closer to Europe.

It is our businesses who could really do with some help.

Doodledog

I sincerely hope so.

Erasmus was available to undergrads too, and I taught many lovely students from all over Europe as a result. UK students could apply too, although they tended not to have the language skills to take advantage. Some universities (eg ones in Cyprus) teach in English, however, so they could widen their horizons by going there.

For those not familiar with the Erasmus scheme, it allows students to take a semester (usually half an academic year) in another European university and get the credits towards their home degree.

So did I. In Europe, they all have to study a foreign language, and often two- right up to A'Level- so were all able to join Erasmus in their chosen subject and do very well.

There was always a mismatch of numbers, sadly, because most UK students doing sciences, technology, engineering, IT, and most other subjects, would not be able to take full part due to not knowing the language. DD1 and many friends who were studying German or French as part of their Degree, with International Law, Accounting or Business- were able to go to a Uni in Europe for 1 year and benefited hugely.

This will doubtless delight the middle classes.
The working class not so much. Many don’t even register what Erasmus is - if you drive a van, are a plumber or painter and decorator it won’t even cross your mind.

I think a lot of working class people want the best for their children.

There are plenty of working class scientists Urmstongran DH was working as a delivery driver and I was working as in a local cafe when DD went to university and we had just been rehoused by the council. DD now leads a university research team and her professor is an Essex boy from Canvey Island. She has a lot to say about the damage done to scientific research by Brexit and the loss of Horizon.

Urmstongran

This will doubtless delight the middle classes.
The working class not so much. Many don’t even register what Erasmus is - if you drive a van, are a plumber or painter and decorator it won’t even cross your mind.

Well not in my experience, they want their children to pursue further education as much as the middle classes if that is what their child wants, and they are very aware of what is or is not on offer.

It is very difficult to class people by employment as you will often find that what is deemed as “working class jobs” often have someone doing so with a university degree. The old assumptions don’t mean anything anymore.

We do indeed Doodledog it’s just that for most of us, Erasmus doesn’t figure because it’s not relevant. As I say others will be Delighted.

I don’t look on education as just being for the middle classes. Everyone should have access to the sort of education that allows them to fulfil their true potential. Being able to work and study in other countries is important. At the same time I think apprenticeships are just as important and I don’t think they’re as available as they were.

As far as I know a delivery driver on a zero hours contract doesn’t need a degree. Or Erasmus Whitewave. It’s horses for courses.

There are very few apprenticeships nowadays MayBee. Not much out there for the working class lads without A levels. Never mind a degree and Erasmus. As I say the Red Wall won’t be too fussed by this news, trust me.

But isn’t it wrong that someone like Braverman, who took part in the Erasmus scheme then supports something that deprives others from taking part in it? Then again, she’s someone who comes from a family of migrants that doesn’t approve of others doing so. It doesn’t make sense to me; depriving others of something that you, yourself, have benefitted from

I’m not really sure of the point you are making ug there are many people like undergraduates and those working etc who will not take part in the programme and will not be interested, but the choice now will be there, so they will have just that - choice. My cousins daughter - now a qualified doctor took part and thoroughly enjoyed it, my offspring took no part, neither did my nephew -all graduates. My grandson did not have that choice because people like yourself took it away from him, and I suspect he would have been one who would have jumped at the opportunity.

Maybe the fact that the EU want the UK to pay around £2 billion for rejoining has something to do with it? I thought the UK was pretty skint. Birmingham Council being a good example ...

Urmstongran

Maybe the fact that the EU want the UK to pay around £2 billion for rejoining has something to do with it? I thought the UK was pretty skint. Birmingham Council being a good example ...

How many free clubs of any quality are you aware of?

Well we are all entitled to our opinions on this. To some folk it’s relevant. To others (choice or not, it still costs money) not so much.

To be honest we talk about the ‘Westminster Bubble’. I think there’s a ‘GN Bubble’ on here and those folk who are in it are not so aware of life outside of it really. They just view life differently and get excited about things that many others don’t register. At all.

Urmstongran

Maybe the fact that the EU want the UK to pay around £2 billion for rejoining has something to do with it? I thought the UK was pretty skint. Birmingham Council being a good example ...

Yes, we'll definitely have made a loss on the whole fiasco. The question is when to stop haemorrhaging money and pay up, then re-enter in a worse position than we were. I seem to think that this was predicted at the time of the referendum, though.

I'm not altogether sure where Erasmus comes in as it is Horizon that we are rejoining.

I find some posters' efforts to typecast the 'working class' as insular and unaspirational very depressing. But I suppose that was the Brexit mentality. 'If we don't want it why should anyone else have it?'

Urmstongran

Well we are all entitled to our opinions on this. To some folk it’s relevant. To others (choice or not, it still costs money) not so much.

To be honest we talk about the ‘Westminster Bubble’. I think there’s a ‘GN Bubble’ on here and those folk who are in it are not so aware of life outside of it really. They just view life differently and get excited about things that many others don’t register. At all.

Of course we are all entitled to opinions.

It's just that I don't think that working class people are generally less ambitious for their children/grandchildren than middle class ones. Erasmus wouldn't be top of my list of reasons for rejoining the EU, but having it back would be a plus point if we did go back, IMO.