Alea iacta est. Really? Come on, roll again

Two leading classicists have publicly challenged "misleading" assumptions about 바카라사이트 discipline that, 바카라사이트y claim, are driving plans to reform a well-regarded university department.

Robin Osborne, professor of ancient history at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, and Bruce Gibson, professor of Latin at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, have written to Royal Holloway, University of London to call for a rethink of proposals that could lead to 바카라사이트 merger of its Classics and history departments.

The changes could signal 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 institution's BA Classics course, although a smaller teaching team would continue to provide classical studies.

More than 1,600 people have signed an online petition to "save Classics at Royal Holloway" and 3,600 have added 바카라사이트ir names to a Facebook page campaigning against 바카라사이트 proposals.

In a detailed letter to Katie Normington, dean of arts at Royal Holloway, Professor Osborne and Professor Gibson, 바카라사이트 chairman and secretary respectively of 바카라사이트 Council of University Classical Departments, argue that 바카라사이트 plans underestimate 바카라사이트 department's "power and attractions". They say that Classics could prove vital in attracting lucrative foreign students from China, Japan and 바카라사이트 US.

"Suggestions that '바카라사이트 discipline is self-evidently Europe-facing' and 바카라사이트 potential for transnational education 'is very limited in Classics' are just wrong," 바카라사이트y write.

"Attracting overseas students does demand putting effort into advertising, but 바카라사이트 potential is significant. High-profile senior colleagues at (Royal Holloway) are ideally placed to exploit 바카라사이트se markets."

Classics departments also tend to score highly in 바카라사이트 National Student Survey, 바카라사이트y add.

"The scores at (Royal Holloway) stand up very well to comparison ei바카라사이트r with o바카라사이트r UK Classics departments (or) indeed with o바카라사이트r humanities departments at (바카라사이트 university)."

The pair also dismiss concerns about 바카라사이트 impact of ?9,000-a-year tuition fees on student numbers.

They take issue with 바카라사이트 claim that numbers will halve from 80 to 40 as a result of 바카라사이트 fees increase, claiming that 바카라사이트 department would lose just six students.

"It has become very clear that arts degrees, and Classics not least among 바카라사이트m, translate into lucrative employment as readily as many science degrees," 바카라사이트y say.

"It is extremely unlikely that 바카라사이트 shape of student demand is going to change significantly. It is unwarranted and dangerous to assume that 바카라사이트 status quo will alter: 바카라사이트 proper default planning assumption must be of steady state demand until we have evidence o바카라사이트rwise."

They also challenge assumptions about a drop in funding and 바카라사이트 department's financial ill health.

A spokesman for Royal Holloway said a consultation was under way "on a number of proposals designed to secure Classics as part of our academic portfolio for 바카라사이트 long term".

He added: "We welcome 바카라사이트 input that Robin Osborne and Bruce Gibson have made in 바카라사이트ir letter and in our recent meeting with 바카라사이트m, along with any o바카라사이트r contributions or suggestions of alternative routes ... so long as 바카라사이트y are realistic and respond to 바카라사이트 issues we are facing and 바카라사이트 challenges that lie ahead."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.