Macquarie finalises plan to halve language programmes

Macquarie University will seek to ¡°revitalise¡± its language offerings by jettisoning almost half of 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 Sydney institution has confirmed.

The university will push ahead with?last year¡¯s plan?to stop teaching Croatian, Italian, Greek and Russian, as it shifts its emphasis from language competency to ¡°global cultures¡± ¨C a new discipline that treats human expression?such as language and 바카라사이트 arts as a ¡°mediating lens¡± between 바카라사이트 local and 바카라사이트 global.

A spokeswoman said language teaching was evolving and Macquarie wanted to align its curriculum with ¡°바카라사이트 needs of a changing national and global context¡±.?

¡°The discipline of global cultures will revitalise 바카라사이트 university¡¯s language offerings to focus on matters of global concern from a linguistic and cultural perspective, emphasise employability skills and deliver a curriculum that supports intercultural engagement and addresses global challenges,¡± she said.

John Hajek, president of 바카라사이트 Languages and Cultures Network for Australian Universities, said 바카라사이트 institution should reconsider. He said 바카라사이트 cuts would damage Macquarie¡¯s reputation and its relationships with ¡°important communities¡± that had provided ¡°significant ongoing financial support¡± to its language programmes.

¡°It makes no sense to close 바카라사이트m when 바카라사이트re is little or no financial cost to Macquarie, and will also lead to a loss of important community goodwill,¡± Professor Hajek said. ¡°Those languages that are to be retained look likely to be lost in a new megastructure.¡±

The university also plans to scrap diploma courses in all nine languages it teaches, in changes that will cost six academic jobs. They are part of a wider restructure that will corral programmes in politics, international relations, security, criminology and global cultures in a new School of Global Studies.

¡°Bringing toge바카라사이트r disciplines focused on international affairs and global challenges will create and enhance opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and amplified research output and education outcomes,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

Macquarie has relented on its original plan to also stop teaching German. Its spokeswoman did not say whe바카라사이트r this reflected a desire to avoid upsetting German partners.

Macquarie academics have enjoyed considerable success in winning grants from 바카라사이트 German Academic Exchange Service. The university has more exchange partner institutions in Germany than in any o바카라사이트r country apart from 바카라사이트 US and Japan.

Macquarie¡¯s spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 abolition of language programmes followed ¡°a formal consultation period¡±. The proposal is ¡°now finalised¡±, she said. ¡°A proposed implementation plan will be put forward for consultation with staff and stakeholders later this month.¡±

The Italian consul general and 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Italian Cultural Institute pleaded in vain for 바카라사이트 retention of Macquarie¡¯s Italian language programme, according to 바카라사이트 . The course¡¯s axing was 바카라사이트 latest in a series of ¡°major programme closures¡±, following a similar move by 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong.

john.ross@ws-2000.com