The Vice-Chancellor of the University Sir Leszek Borysiewicz has issued a statement on the triggering of Article 50, praising the contribution of EU nationals to the success of the University and calling upon the government to protect their rights.

In the statement, he highlighted his awareness of the “concern” that Brexit causes “among members of our community”, and declared that the “main concern” of the University is “the welfare of its staff and students, both current and prospective.”

He particularly identified “non-UK nationals of EU member states” within this community, praising them for contributing “enormously to the University of Cambridge’s success, to the diversity of our community, and to our values of openness, inclusion and mutual respect.”

He sought to reassure students and staff that during the two-year Article 50 process, after which the UK will exit the European Union, “there will be no changes to the status of EU nations working or studying at the University of Cambridge.”

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He also committed the University to continue to urge the government “to protect the rights of EU nationals in the UK” and to seek “assurances regarding their future status after Brexit is completed.”

He concluded: “Our excellence in research, education and learning is based on the excellence of our people - researchers, lecturers, students, administrators and support staff - many of whom are non-UK EU nationals. They will be our priority in the days ahead.”

This is not the first time Borysiewicz has expressed concern over Brexit. Before the vote he backed the Remain campaign, describing an economically-sound Brexit as a “fantasy”, and said after the Leave side won the referendum that he was “disappointed” by the result. He has since focused his energies on advocating protection for the rights of EU migrants to the UK. More than thirty prominent figures connected with the University of Oxford have recently echoed the Vice-Chancellor's sentiments.

Academics at the University and at other institutions are also broadly disapproving of Brexit. Before the referendum, more than 300 senior University members signed an open letter in favour of a Remain vote. On the day before the vote one fellow staged a particularly colourful protest, turning up to a departmental meeting naked with the slogan “Brexit leaves Britain naked” written across her chest. A survey commissioned by the University and College Union earlier this year found that 81 per cent of academics across the country had voted to Remain, while just 8 per cent had voted to Leave.