CHEAD, APDIG, and TCCE have collaborated on a Manifesto for Creative HE post-Brexit which was launched in Parliament on 11 September 2017 with speeches and Q&A by the Rt Hon Matt Hancock, MP, Minister of State for Digital with Professor Anita Taylor, Dean of Bath School of Art and Design at Bath Spa University, and Evelyn Wilson, Founding Director TCCE. The event was sold out and we were gratified that the Minister of State was able to remain for an extended Q&A session.
The Manifesto sets out the key areas of concern for creative Higher Education post-Brexit:
- Ensuring that the UK’s creative HEIs can continue to attract the best talent from abroad by:
- Working towards a post-Brexit deal that allows the UK to continue to participate in existing and future research partnerships with EU bodies
- Maximising continuity with existing standards for international trade and creative collaboration
- Minimising barriers to entry for international students and academics as well as providing attractive post-study pathways
- Encouraging economic growth by promoting the continued participation of HEIs in regional growth plans and economic development
- Facilitating the creative industries to continue its significant contribution to all sectors of the economy by being incorporated as an integral component of the Industrial Strategy
The Manifesto sets out the values needed to drive good design and creative principles across all sectors of the economy:
- Understanding the cross-sector value of design and the creative industries to the wider economy in order to ensure that their benefits reach all areas of the United Kingdom
- Valuing international partnerships and research collaboration for higher and further education bodies to ensure that successful relationships are not interrupted as a result of Brexit
- Ensuring that legislation continues to adapt to changes in the EU and global regulatory framework to ensure that businesses and HEIs are able to plan strategically for future growth and commercial development
- Placing design and creative thinking at the heart of Government to spread best practice across the public sector
The principles set out in the Brexit Manifesto will form the core or CHEAD’s policy work with the Industrial Strategy and Brexit to 2020 and the UK’s exit from the EU.