Informatics' Equality and Diversity Blog

Senior Vice-Principal Professor Charlie Jeffery has issued the following update for EU staff:

You may have seen recent media reports about the number of EU academics leaving UK universities, with the implication that this is a direct result of Brexit.

The reports are very misleading since they do not take into account the numbers of EU staff we have recruited over the same period. In fact, at Edinburgh, over the last three years the numbers of our EU staff (both academic and non-academic) have increased each year with new recruits significantly outweighing departures. Recruiting talented colleagues from the EU and around the world is crucial to maintaining our success as one of the world’s leading universities.

That said, we are not complacent about the ongoing uncertainty around the status of EU nationals and how unsettling this continues to be for EU staff and students, and those with EU family members. I recently argued strongly in favour of the rights of EU citizens in the UK at a joint hearing at the European Parliament, and we continue to work with key sector bodies to secure these rights.

Over 600 staff attended the recent information sessions for EEA staff and staff with EEA partners, with 330 staff following up with 1-2-1 consultations with immigration experts. We want to support colleagues in this way as much as possible and will be hosting additional 1-2-1 consultations in Semester 1 for those who could not attend the recent sessions, while reviewing further support that might be required as Brexit negotiations progress. Full details of the support currently available to EU staff and staff with EU partners can be found at http://edin.ac/2msLnoZ.

We also offer practical and financial support to non-EEA, Tier 2 sponsored staff, with full details available at http://edin.ac/2pFynS5. Over the summer we will be enhancing this support with the appointment of a regulated immigration adviser, able to advise and assist non-EEA staff with their visa applications. Further information on accessing this service will be provided to non-EEA staff over the next few weeks.

I will keep you updated on any developments through direct emails, and you can read the latest news on our website at http://edin.ac/eu-news.

Staff from the European Economic Area (EEA) and staff with EEA partners/dependants can now access the following additional support:

• a 1-2-1 meeting with an external immigration advisor, bookable through MyEd from Monday 1 May to take place from Monday 15 May
• a list of Scottish legal firms who specialise in immigration law
• an interest free loan, available to those applying for UK residency, indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship (including non-EEA staff)

Staff can request evidence of employment and earnings to support their residency/citizenship applications.

Full details are now available at http://edin.ac/2pcrgzM

The University is working to support staff from the European Economic Area and Switzerland at the UK moves to trigger Brexit, and will offer the following support over the coming months:

• Group sessions with external lawyers who will give advice about applying for UK residency and British citizenship
• Individual consultation meetings with an external immigration adviser
• Reduced costs for staff who may need additional legal advice
• Financial support to help spread the cost of residency fees and legal advice
• Practical help to obtain evidence of employment and earnings to support applications.

More details are available at http://edin.ac/2msLnoZ.