University leaders across Europe are increasingly worried about geopolitical tensions threatening their international research collaborations, the head of a body representing 900 institutions across the continent has warned.
Josep Garrell, the president of the European University Association (EUA), told Times Higher Education that rectors whose primary concern was funding and autonomy were now consumed with questions over whether governments would restrict which foreign academics and universities they could work with.
“Three years ago, [when I asked university leaders what are the main challenges you’re facing], everyone almost gave the same reply – institutional autonomy and funding,” he said. “Suddenly, everyone has begun talking about the uncertainty of geopolitics – eg, the impact of the war in Ukraine. They are concerned about research security.”
Garrell said universities were concerned about how international collaboration would change in an uncertain geopolitical climate and feared losing agency over making those decisions for themselves. “Will universities be free to work with other institutions from other countries or will they receive instructions from their governments depending on how geopolitical tensions [evolve]?” he asked.
