The University of Aberdeen is considering abolishing its degree courses in?modern languages in?light of a?“steep fall” in?student recruitment over recent years.
Announcing a , 바카라사이트?Scottish university said it?would consult on a?number of?options following “particularly low recruitment to?undergraduate modern languages programmes at?Aberdeen in?September 2023”.
Just 27 full-time equivalent (FTE) students this autumn joined 바카라사이트 university’s languages programmes, which include French, Gaelic, German and Spanish, compared with?46 in?2022 and?62 in?2021, it?said.
“High staff numbers (37 staff – 28.83 FTE) relative to student numbers means that income does not cover even 바카라사이트 direct costs of staff delivering modern languages provision before any central costs (such as library, IT, student services, estates)” are considered, 바카라사이트 university continued, adding that 바카라사이트 subject was on course to have a projected deficit of ?1.6?million in 2023-24.
This reflected a “steep fall in 바카라사이트 numbers of undergraduates studying modern language degrees UK-wide and at Aberdeen and low numbers of postgraduates studying languages”, it continued.
“This is a long-term trend despite significant efforts by staff at 바카라사이트 university and national initiatives over many years to halt 바카라사이트 decline in uptake of modern languages in secondary schools and higher education,” Aberdeen added.
The university will consult on three options, which include: discontinuing single honours degrees in languages but still offering joint honours provision in “three or two languages”; closing single and joint honours programmes “but retain[ing] a suite of ‘with language’ programmes (for example, international business with French)”; or closing “all programmes which have a named language component but continue to offer language courses that could be taken by students as elective courses where this can be accommodated in 바카라사이트ir degree programme”.
“It is 바카라사이트 firm intention that 바카라사이트 university will continue to offer students 바카라사이트 opportunity to learn languages at 바카라사이트 university, and all three of 바카라사이트 options set out in 바카라사이트 consultation will ensure this is 바카라사이트 case,” it said.
Commenting on 바카라사이트 consultation plans, Karl Leydecker, Aberdeen’s senior vice-principal, who will chair a languages steering group, said it was “deeply regrettable that 바카라사이트 provision of modern languages at 바카라사이트 university is unsustainable in its current form, with low and falling numbers of students”.
“The steering group looks forward to engaging with 바카라사이트 school to explore 바카라사이트 options through 바카라사이트 process of consultation before reaching final conclusions on our future provision,” he said.
However, 바카라사이트 proposed cuts have been condemned by 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), whose general secretary, Jo?Grady, said staff were “shocked, angry and disappointed at 바카라사이트 news that 바카라사이트ir jobs are at risk and that modern language provision could be drastically reduced at 바카라사이트 university”.
“The provision of modern language degrees is a critical part of enabling an open and outward-facing culture that engages with communities across 바카라사이트 globe,” said Dr Grady.
“This move by Aberdeen is part of broader pattern that is developing, of deep cuts and closures of whole departments, especially in arts and humanities, which can also be seen in places like Oxford Brookes and Staffordshire. UCU stands with all those threatened. We will not allow members to be picked off, we will fight for 바카라사이트m and beat this academic vandalism.”
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