There are two side of the coin. One, the long tradition and well established reputation of academia in UK. Two, the global aspect of British Academia beyond EU. Naturally, the student recruitment under EU Scholarships may be much lower now, which may provide opportunities to attract more domestic students and students from other regions in the world. In resume, I do believe that the long tradition and well established reputation of academia in UK, together with the global aspect of British Academia beyond EU, will continue make the British Educational Systems one of the most attractive in the world, and the collaborative bridges already build will remain open.
Agree, indeed the UK with EU is well position to work together and to collaborate and to some extend compete with the North American and East Asian Research Colleagues.
Higher education and Brexit: current European perspectives
The referendum decision caused, and continues to cause, much concern in UK universities, whose personnel tend to be strongly opposed to Brexit. UK universities have a high level of engagement in Europe through their recruitment of non-UK EU citizens as students and staff. There are also benefits from the contribution of European funding, partners and personnel to research carried out in the UK. In some academic disciplines in the UK, up to a third of all research funding is from European programmes. In some universities half of their recent merit-based academic appointments have been non-UK EU citizens. Many UK universities, especially in poorer parts of the country, draw on support from the European Regional Development Fund and European Investment Bank. Among UK citizens in higher education, in contrast with UK society and politics, a significant minority of people identify strongly as European and many see themselves in terms of dual UK/Europe identity. Likewise, there are instances of dual identity among many non-UK citizens from EU countries in higher education, especially those who have been resident in the UK for long periods...
Plus, UK does work already quite extensively with the EU partners in academia, industry and business. To some extend the new challenges on how to set up new collaborative agreements may trigger new opportunity to new player in the field of academic, industry and business. I believe, that the Scholastic brilliance is everywhere and the future is bright.
For those of you who don't know, the UK government has another resignation and one significant for all of us on ResearchGate: the science and universities Minister, who is predicting serious problems ahead in the field. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46407249