Recommendation 149

Professor Katherine Smith, University of Strathclyde, told us that—despite the fact that most EU nationals are allowed to continue working in the UK—she was “really clear from conversations with colleagues working in Scotland, who were born in other European countries, that they are concerned and are feeling less welcome” following Brexit and that “almost all of them have started to explore whether they could move elsewhere in Europe”.348 We heard a similar picture from Professor Rebecca Lunn, who informed us that “a number of eastern European academics, who are very talented, have decided to go back, and a number of people have pulled out of interviews”.349 Karen Watt, Scottish Funding Council, welcomed the UK’s post-study work visa—and thought it would be an important part of the UK’s package that EU nationals will access post-Brexit—but also commented that the general environment and welcome that EU nationals receive post- Brexit matters.350