Referendums, high court rulings, parliamentary votes, Article 50 and Article 127: Brexit hasn’t even begun, and it is already a quagmire of laws and processes. A new Brexit Studies Centre has been opened by Birmingham City University, and aims to provide information and research throughout the process.
The first university organisation of its kind, the centre will be dedicated to researching the UK’s journey to independence. The centre was declared open on Thursday 26th January following a conference event at a Birmingham hotel. The conference was led by academics such as Jon Yorke, a human rights professor at BCU, and Alison Young of the University of Oxford who has been vocal in the debate over whether Article 50 can be triggered by the government or parliament.
What is the aim of the centre?
Designed to attract people from all audiences, it is hoped that the centre will encourage engagement from individuals who voted leave as well as those who would rather the UK have stayed within the European Union. It is open to the general public as well as BCU students and will provide a central hub for conferences, seminars, and workshops relating to Britain’s EU departure.
The main aim of the centre is to stimulate the sharing of knowledge and collaboration between a range of sectors including, for example, climate change, national security, and cultural identity. BCU has stated that information will be shared not just amongst members of the university, but also with businesses, professional organisations and civil society.
Why is a dedicated Brexit Centre important?
Theresa May made clear in her Brexit speech that Britain will be leaving the EU fully – that partial or associate membership of the EU is not on the table. Britain has been a member of the EU (albeit an awkward one) for over 40 years. Leaving the union will be a big change and no matter whether this is positive, negative, or a rollercoaster of ups and downs, it is important that Brexit plans are constructed on the best possible evidence base.
The BCU Brexit Studies Centre aims to begin the construction of this evidence base. It hopes to clear up misconceptions and work to understand what the complexities of Brexit might mean for individuals, communities, businesses, and for the government. As a first step towards this goal, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of BCU, Professor Julian Beer, announced that a report entitled ‘Making a Success of Brexit’ will be released, detailing a plan that has been compiled by BCU with insights from local government, industry and academia.
Will it focus on international repercussions?
Though it will look at the wider impacts of Brexit, the centre will focus on more local issues. Investigations will be undertaken looking specifically at the effects of Brexit on Birmingham and the West Midlands. The university has joined forces with the West Midlands Economic Forum to host business seminars on a monthly basis.
In line with the Centre’s overall aims, the Brexit Business seminars will be designed to offer the latest information and research progress on Brexit impacts in the West Midlands area. The seminars should help to keep businesses and policy-makers from all sectors up to date with Brexit movements.
Where can I learn more?
If you are interested in learning more about the BCU Brexit Studies Centre and its collaboration with the West Midlands Economic Forum, you can go along to the first monthly Breakfast Seminar, which will be held at the university campus on 3rd Feb from 7-9:30am.
The Brexit Studies Centre is offering regular opportunities for students and professionals to learn about and discuss the impacts of Brexit. It is not however, offering full university courses on the details of this historic event. If you have found the complexities of Brexit fascinating and think you would suit a complementary course, it might be worth considering a degree in a related area.
What degree courses can I do if I'm interested in Brexit?
You will be hard pushed to find a university that does not run an undergraduate programme with some association to Brexit – the change will, after all, affect most sectors in one way or another. A politics degree might be most relevant; these courses offer insights into the history of politics and most will also have modules on British or European politics. If you are more interested in international politics, then this topic can be read as a degree in its own right.
Brexit is not just about politics. If you have found yourself more interested in the debates over whether or not Article 50 can be triggered and the powers of the government and parliament, then a law degree might be best suited to you. With Brexit will come a British movement away from EU laws – the coming years will be a stirring period for the field of law.
There are many other relevant university courses; you might consider a degree in philosophy, sociology, or history. If you can’t choose one option alone, why not consider a joint honours, such as political science with international relations, or economics and philosophy?
Read more about Brexit in these articles:
Should I Still Study In Britain? Don't Let Brexit Stop You!
International Study Post-Brexit: What Did Theresa May's Speech Tell Us?
