Free movement of students and scholars would be hindered by UK leaving EU, says University of Glasgow principal

Reducing the case for staying in the European Union to a simple “cost-benefits analysis” would be a mistake for universities seeking to influence the referendum debate, a leading vice-chancellor has warned.

Anton Muscatelli, principal of the University of Glasgow, said that it was vital for universities to appeal to the “core values” of their staff and students when arguing that the UK should remain in the EU, rather than solely using economic arguments.

Universities are set to hold dozens of debates on campus over the coming weeks ahead of the historic 23 June poll which will decide whether the UK will exit the EU.

Professor Muscatelli told a joint Higher Education Policy Institute and Higher Education Academy event at the House of Commons on 23 February that universities keen to champion EU membership “should not underplay” the importance of the EU in enabling the free movement of academics and students.

“The lifeblood of universities is the mobility of scholars and students,” said Professor Muscatelli.

That was even true now, but also in medieval times when the University of Glasgow was founded, he added.

“Mobility was part of the university from the very beginning, so anything that will erect a barrier to that will create a negative reaction [among staff],” said Professor Muscatelli, who was one of 103 university leaders to sign a recent open letter in support of the UK’s EU membership.

Arguments for leaving the EU had not proved popular on campus as they constituted a “fundamental attack of our values”, particularly the desire to restrict freedom of labour, he added.