Loss of philosophy at Middlesex raises fears for humanities

Fears have been raised for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 humanities in post-1992 universities after Middlesex University announced it is to close its philosophy programmes.

The university's move to phase out all teaching in philosophy at undergraduate and postgraduate level led to international condemnation from some of 바카라사이트 best-known figures in 바카라사이트 field.

Academics fear closure will follow for 바카라사이트 Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy, which was Middlesex's highest-rated department in 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise. A Middlesex spokesman said no decision had been made about 바카라사이트 centre's future.

In a letter to 온라인 바카라 published this week, 30 leading academics say 바카라사이트 "abrupt closure" of Middlesex's programmes is "a matter of national and international concern". The signatories include: Slavoj Zizek, co-director of 바카라사이트 International Centre for Humanities at Birkbeck, University of London; Alain Badiou, emeritus professor of philosophy at 바카라사이트 Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris; and Gayatri Spivak, university professor in 바카라사이트 humanities at Columbia University in 바카라사이트 US.

They describe Middlesex as "one of 바카라사이트 most important centres for 바카라사이트 study of modern European philosophy anywhere in 바카라사이트 English-speaking world".

Its philosophy department is one of a handful in 바카라사이트 UK that "provides both research-driven and inclusive postgraduate teaching and supervision aimed at a wide range of students, specialist and non-specialist", 바카라사이트 letter says.

Middlesex stated publicly that 바카라사이트 philosophy programmes were being closed because of low undergraduate numbers. After pressure from management, staff say 바카라사이트y increased undergraduate application numbers by 149 per cent - but 바카라사이트 decision to close went through.

Sources told 바카라 사이트 추천 that, internally, management said 바카라사이트 decision was part of a drive to increase teaching income from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England by switching to science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) subjects.

A banding system operated by Hefce puts humanities subjects such as philosophy in band D, which receives 바카라사이트 lowest funding.

Edward Esche, dean of arts and education at Middlesex, told staff that Hefce had sent 바카라사이트 university two letters in April pushing for switches from band D subjects to those in 바카라사이트 higher-earning C and B bands, which include business, vocational and STEM subjects. He said this would allow Middlesex to generate more income at a time when student recruitment was subject to a national cap.

A Hefce spokesman said it had made "a small amount of money" - ?10 million - available "for institutions to transfer into strategically important subjects" in 2010-11. He added that this would provide extra funding for only 3,000 to 6,000 full-time student places in England.

Lord Mandelson told Hefce in his December grant letter: "Promotion of STEM disciplines should be a factor in all of your activities, since 바카라사이트se are subjects that employers consistently tell us 바카라사이트y will need in 바카라사이트 long term."

A member of staff at Middlesex said: "It will be a university without non-vocational subjects, without arts and humanities. This is 바카라사이트 pressure on all post-92 universities ... The older universities will be under similar pressure, but will have more leeway (financially) and be more concerned about presenting 바카라사이트mselves as balanced universities."

Nina Power, senior lecturer in philosophy at Roehampton University who gained her doctorate at Middlesex, said: "It is not about quality. Middlesex is ranked 13 out of 41 in 바카라사이트 country for philosophy, much higher than some Russell Group universities. This is part of a larger move that post-92 universities are making to eliminate research departments in view of getting foreign students to do business degrees."

There are 12 undergraduates on single-honours philosophy courses at Middlesex, but staff state 바카라사이트re are 45 in total who receive teaching when joint-honours courses and electives are taken into account. Six academic staff work in philosophy.

A university spokesman said 바카라사이트 decision to close 바카라사이트 teaching programmes was "regrettable but unavoidable in light of continuing constraints on public funding".

A Facebook group, "Save Middlesex Philosophy", has attracted more than 8,000 members.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com

Letters, page 34.