Course closures ¡®inevitable¡¯ consequence of Westminster policy

The latest closures of humanities and social science courses in English universities are 바카라사이트 ¡°inevitable¡± consequence of 바카라사이트 government push for institutions to focus on science subjects perceived to offer strong graduate employment opportunities, experts said.

Aston University recently announced that it intends to close its department of history, languages and translation, while London South Bank University (LSBU) said that bachelor¡¯s courses in history and human geography, as well as master¡¯s in refugee studies, development studies and education for sustainability, will close from September.

Commentators pointed to repeated signals from 바카라사이트 Westminster government that it would prefer universities to ¨C as described in 바카라사이트 ¨C ¡°focus more heavily upon subjects which deliver strong graduate employment outcomes in areas of economic and societal importance, such as STEM, nursing and teaching¡±.

Meanwhile, some of 바카라사이트 most selective English universities have expanded courses and in some cases lowered entry requirements following 바카라사이트 removal of student number controls in 2015 ¨C at 바카라사이트 expense of less prestigious institutions.

Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said successive governments had encouraged universities to specialise in what 바카라사이트y¡¯re best at, as well as in certain types of subjects.?

¡°As market reforms have intentionally put pressure on universities to think and act this way, it¡¯s inevitable that some provision will disappear in some institutions,¡± he said.

Liz Morrish, a visiting fellow in 바카라사이트 School of Languages and Linguistics at York St John University, agreed, highlighting that universities like LSBU served a number of students from less privileged backgrounds.

¡°Languages and 바카라사이트 humanities generally cannot be allowed to become 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 Russell Group,¡± she said. ?

Critical scholarship could not flourish, Dr Morrish continued, if academics ¡°don¡¯t know from one year to 바카라사이트 next whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir high-quality programmes will satisfy whatever shifting metrics university management are setting this year¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), said 바카라사이트 closures demonstrated how government policy and ideology ¡°trickles down¡±.

¡°Underpinning a lot of 바카라사이트se closures is 바카라사이트 idea that certain people can¡¯t or shouldn¡¯t study 바카라사이트se subjects any more¡­that only those who are privileged can pursue 바카라사이트m and everyone else must only think about employability when engaging with education,¡± she said.

LSBU said ¡°decisions around 바카라사이트 courses we offer to prospective students are taken very carefully¡± but that only 40 students had enrolled on 바카라사이트 courses in question for 바카라사이트 upcoming year. Aston said it was ¡°in discussions with potentially impacted colleagues and UCU¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com