European Union membership helps the UK¡¯s universities ¡°carry out cutting-edge research and make discoveries that improve people¡¯s lives¡±, a senior vice-chancellor is set to say.

Dame Julia Goodfellow, the University of Kent vice-chancellor and UUK president-elect, will call for universities to ¡°stand up and be counted¡± in the EU referendum debate as UUK launches its Universities for Europe campaign today.

The launch event will also include speeches from Chuka Umunna, Labour¡¯s shadow business secretary, and the pro-European Conservative MP Damian Green, chairman of the Conservative Party's European Mainstream group.

Dame Julia will say: ¡°It is abundantly clear that the UK¡¯s membership of the European Union has an overwhelmingly positive impact on our world-leading universities, enhancing university research and teaching.

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¡°UK universities are at the heart of the biggest knowledge producing region in the world ¨C and we all benefit from that ¨C individuals, the economy and society.¡±

And she will add: ¡°By supporting collaboration and breaking down international barriers, the EU helps universities to carry out cutting-edge research and make discoveries that improve people¡¯s lives and enhance the UK¡¯s global influence.

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¡°The EU brings people together, helping to attract top talent to contribute to UK higher education and providing life-changing opportunities abroad for UK students and researchers to build global networks and enhance their cultural understanding.¡±

Dame Julia will also call for universities to be a ¡°powerful and positive voice on the benefits of EU membership¡±.

In a cover feature on the potential impact of a Brexit earlier this month, Times Higher Education reported on warnings from Jos¨¦ Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission, that leaving the EU would have major consequences for UK universities.

¡°I believe that if the UK is no longer a member of the EU, there will certainly be a loss of research funding,¡± he said, adding that there would also be ¡°damage to faculty and student mobility¡±.

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john.morgan@tesglobal.com