Catholic universities have benefited from Britain being part of the EU. Ahead of next month’s referendum, Francis Campbell from St Mary’s University explains why

The first few months of the summer are usually a busy time for universities. As the evenings start to get longer, exam fever sets in – for students and staff alike.

This year, there is a new worry. The upcoming referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union is a crucial moment for both the UK and the wider EU. With polls showing a tight race and some putting the “Leave” camp ahead, perhaps the impact of a withdrawal has not yet been fully understood – not least, the impact it will have on UK universities.

St Columbanus, the Irish missionary who professed his faith across Europe, was famously the first person to describe himself as a “European” and to articulate a sense of European identity (something that is sadly missing from the current debate playing out in the media).

Columbanus and his followers established more than 100 centres of scholarship and spirituality throughout the European Continent during the Dark Ages, including Luxeuil Abbey in France and Bobbio Abbey in Italy. It is crucial that we do not lose sight of the importance of a continental academic tradition, which remains to this day, and the benefits to UK universities from our EU membership should not be underestimated.