American travel restrictions bad for academia

The University of Groningen endorses the statement made by the VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands) about the travel restrictions imposed by the United States of America. The measure forms an obstacle to the flow of academic talent and therefore to academic development.

The USA has announced strict immigration restrictions for people with passports from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. This is having a serious, undesirable effect on their mobility. The measure not only affects people personally, but also affects the academic world as a whole. After all, researchers and students must be able to travel freely across national borders, enabling universities to attract talent from all around the world.

Academics working in the Netherlands will also be seriously restricted in their collaboration with other academics. They may find themselves unable to travel to international conferences or seminars. The VSNU is supporting the call by the European Universities Association (EUA) to the American government to revoke the executive order on immigration policy.

Statement VSNU

Call European University Association EUA