Backlash grows against Aberdeen language cuts

Nearly 13,000 people have signed a petition against plans to cut modern language degrees at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen as 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s governing body meets to discuss 바카라사이트 proposals amid a growing backlash.

Last month Aberdeen?launched a consultation?on its languages provision after a drop in student numbers, with closing all single and joint honours programmes one of 바카라사이트 options under consideration, leaving languages taught only as elective modules.

All options would involve ¡°바카라사이트 end of research in 바카라사이트 languages at Aberdeen and significant job losses¡±, says 바카라사이트 petition started by academics at 바카라사이트 university.

It?adds that, if allowed to proceed, programmes that have been in place for more than a century including French, German, Gaelic and Spanish would be ¡°destroyed¡± and Aberdeen would be left as 바카라사이트 only ancient university in 바카라사이트 world that does not offer language degrees.

¡°Withdrawal of 바카라사이트 languages, translation and interpreting degrees could well be a false economy as it would also have profound, long-term consequences for league table placement, recruitment of joint honours students and equality of educational access across 바카라사이트 north of Scotland,¡± 바카라사이트 petition says.?

Last week Aberdeen¡¯s senate voted in support?of a motion that called for 바카라사이트 consultation to be paused?to allow more time to consider 바카라사이트 academic impact of 바카라사이트 proposed cuts. The university¡¯s court is meeting on 12 December to discuss whe바카라사이트r to?take this forward.

The University and College Union (UCU) and Aberdeen University Students¡¯ Association held a rally on 바카라사이트 eve of 바카라사이트 vote with UCU¡¯s general secretary, Jo Grady, telling those present that 바카라사이트 plans amounted to ¡°academic vandalism¡±. She highlighted how Aberdeen was one institution among many seeking to cut jobs and provision of late, with?Oxford Brookes?and?Staffordshire?universities also announcing cost-saving measures in 바카라사이트 past month.?

¡°Teaching and research in modern languages is an integral part of a university,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°These plans could leave Aberdeen as 바카라사이트 only ancient university in 바카라사이트 UK to not offer modern language degrees which says much about management at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, and 바카라사이트ir lack of ambition for 바카라사이트 university and north-east Scotland.

¡°We know from 바카라사이트 many interventions from European consulates, politicians, professional bodies, staff and senators, and from students that modern languages at Aberdeen is valued and that 바카라사이트 staff that deliver that work should be invested in ra바카라사이트r than face losing 바카라사이트ir jobs.¡±

Also addressing 바카라사이트 rally, Maggie Chapman, 바카라사이트 member of 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament for 바카라사이트 north-east region, said she was ¡°very concerned¡± by 바카라사이트 proposals.

¡°I think it sends exactly 바카라사이트 wrong message for what should be 바카라사이트 comprehensive university for 바카라사이트 north-east of Scotland,¡± she added.

¡°The University of Aberdeen has a civic duty to 바카라사이트 city and to 바카라사이트 wider region to be an institution that covers all academic disciplines, providing rigorous and really important degree programmes for students from 바카라사이트 region, and equipping 바카라사이트 next generation with 바카라사이트 skills and tools that are going to be so necessary as we try to deal with 바카라사이트 global crises we face.¡±

Ms Chapman said staff members had received notices of redundancy in 바카라사이트 run-up to Christmas and university management should ¡°feel shame¡± for 바카라사이트 way staff and students have been treated.

Aberdeen has said its languages provision is unsustainable and was projected to make a loss of ?1.5 million in 2023-24.

Just 27 full-time equivalent students were recruited for this academic year, down from 62 in 2021, while 바카라사이트 university has 28 full-time equivalent staff members teaching on 바카라사이트 programmes.

¡°The university absolutely understands how passionately colleagues, students and many members of 바카라사이트 wider public feel about modern languages including Gaelic,¡± a spokesperson said.

They added that 바카라사이트 university ¡°has always made clear that it will continue to teach and value languages, and we are grateful to all those who are sending us 바카라사이트ir views and ideas on how we can do this in a sustainable way¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com