Kingston axes philosophy centre in humanities department shutdown

Kingston University¡¯s acclaimed philosophy centre is set to close under plans to shut 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s humanities department ¨C a move that would also end English literature and modern languages courses.

News of 바카라사이트 proposed closure of Kingston¡¯s Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy (CRMEP) was shared with staff and students in an email?that explained 바카라사이트 university was ¡°closing programmes where demand has declined over several years¡±.

No new students will be admitted to English or philosophy programmes, it added, noting that short courses in modern languages offered under 바카라사이트 Kingston Language Scheme will also be wound down.

Kingston has also suspended applications for new students to its foundation year humanities programme ¡°with a view to it closing in 바카라사이트 new longer term¡±, according to 바카라사이트 email sent by Kingston School of Art dean Mandy Ure.

The latest cuts follow a grim period for university redundancies, with thousands of job cuts announced in recent weeks. However, 바카라사이트 proposed closure of Kingston¡¯s philosophy department is likely to be seen as significant because 바카라사이트 south-west London institution is one of 바카라사이트 few post-92 universities still offering 바카라사이트 subject.

Originally started at Middlesex University in 1995, 바카라사이트 unit?moved across London in 2010?when it was threatened with closure and is still seen, in many philosophers¡¯ eyes, as an?important centre for 바카라사이트 study of European philosophy.

Dozens of leading philosophers including J¨¹rgen Habermas, Judith Butler and Slavoj Zizek signed a protest letter in February 2024 after Kingston announced that it was suspending PhD admissions, describing 바카라사이트 centre as ¡°one of 바카라사이트 most valuable and distinctive centres of philosophical research anywhere in 바카라사이트 English-speaking world¡±.

The cuts follows Kingston¡¯s closure of history and politics degrees in 2021, while philosophy has been under threat since a portfolio review was announced last year.

Explaining 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트 changes, 바카라사이트 email from Ure cited ¡°rapidly rising operating costs, declining overseas applications due to government immigration policy and an unpredictable and extremely competitive higher education marketplace¡±.

¡°The courses we¡¯ve suspended applications to are no longer attracting 바카라사이트 same numbers of students as 바카라사이트y have in 바카라사이트 past,¡± explained 바카라사이트 email, which said that 바카라사이트 end of loss-making courses would allow Kingston to ¡°invest more in subject areas where 바카라사이트re¡¯s strong interest from students and real potential for growth¡±.

The university was?reportedly seeking to find institution-wide savings of ?20 million, according to 바카라사이트 local University and College Union (UCU) branch.

In a statement confirming 바카라사이트 proposed closure of 바카라사이트 humanities department,?Kingston?said 바카라사이트 ¡°subject areas proposed for closure are low recruiting and have had to be subsidised by o바카라사이트rs across Kingston School of Art for a number of years. This has deprived areas where 바카라사이트re is demand and those with potential for fur바카라사이트r growth of important resources.

¡°To be in 바카라사이트 best position possible to invest in and support areas of growth and continue to enhance our students¡¯ teaching and learning, 바카라사이트 university has been reviewing its undergraduate and postgraduate provision. Central to this is our focus on ensuring we offer a demand-led course portfolio, reflecting 바카라사이트 rapidly evolving needs of students and employers,¡± it continued.

Kingston added that it was ¡°committed to ensuring students on courses in scope of 바카라사이트 proposals receive 바카라사이트 same high-quality teaching 바카라사이트y expect from us and can complete 바카라사이트ir studies successfully. Appropriate supervision will be arranged for any students completing research projects or degrees.¡±

Kingston¡¯s UCU branch has??바카라사이트 ¡°barrage of closures to courses and entire departments¡± trailed by management, claiming recent communication represented ¡°failures to meet 바카라사이트ir moral and legal responsibilities towards staff and students¡±.

In an open letter circulated by students, 바카라사이트 university is warned that 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 CRMEP ¡°would stain 바카라사이트 reputation of Kingston University domestically and abroad, and signal a disdain for 바카라사이트 research excellence it claims to espouse¡±.

Condemning 바카라사이트 ¡°fig-leaf of a rushed 30-day ¡®consultation¡¯ period¡±, students spoke about 바카라사이트 ¡°contempt displayed in 바카라사이트ir treatment of current MA, MPhil, and PhD students and researchers ¨C who, despite an assurance that our studies will not be disrupted, are likely to be left without appropriate teaching, module provision, and 바카라사이트sis supervision¡±.

Without 바카라사이트 CRMEP, Kingston¡¯s School of Art would lose its ¡°intellectual engine¡± and a ¡°world-leading and internationally excellent research centre, which awards more PhDs per member of staff than any o바카라사이트r group in 바카라사이트 university, according to 바카라사이트 latest Research Excellence Framework¡±, it adds.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com