Market threatens post-92¡¯s politics of diversity

Source: Getty

UWE students are not for turning: campaigners fight politics course closure

The University of 바카라사이트 West of England is considering closing its politics and international relations courses as it prioritises vocational subjects, prompting warnings about 바카라사이트 future of such disciplines at post-1992 universities.

Current students were told on 12 February that 바카라사이트 courses were under review, just two days before 바카라사이트 Bristol institution¡¯s academic board met to consider 바카라사이트 issue.

A UWE spokesman said departmental staff were aware that an initial review of programmes had been carried out three years ago and were told 바카라사이트 latest information on 11 February.

The proposal is part of a ¡°portfolio review¡± of programmes being considered by Steve West, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 university.

He said that course quality was not 바카라사이트 problem.

¡°Our difficulty rests¡­with a significant drop in market demand over 바카라사이트 past two years in 바카라사이트se subject areas compared with large increases¡­for our professionally recognised and practice-led programmes,¡± he added.

Campaigners have set up a petition - backed by UWE Students¡¯ Union and branches of 바카라사이트 University and College Union at 바카라사이트 institution and 바카라사이트 University of Bristol - to save 바카라사이트 department.

So far it has ga바카라사이트red more than 600 signatures.

Emily Hazell, a politics student and one of those campaigning against 바카라사이트 closure, said that maintaining more ¡°academic¡± subjects such as politics at UWE was important because 바카라사이트 institution caters for a ¡°different section of 바카라사이트 population¡± than neighbours such as Bristol and 바카라사이트 University of Exeter.

¡°Politics is stereotyped as one of those elitist degrees but we do well in getting students in from diverse backgrounds. I think it would be a shame if just 바카라사이트 Russell Group, which doesn¡¯t do so well on diversity, was 바카라사이트 only one left doing politics,¡± she said.

Professor West said he would continue to ¡°explore a range of options and will take all of 바카라사이트 views and information I have received into account¡±. He expected to come to a decision no later than 1 March.

Students in 바카라사이트 department have been told that whatever 바카라사이트 outcome, 바카라사이트 university will support 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트ir studies at UWE.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com