Thousands back call to save Sheffield East Asian studies degrees

Students and staff are fighting to preserve language degrees in one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s largest East Asian studies departments, after university cuts put?바카라사이트m?at risk.

In November, 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield announced a formal review of language provision in 바카라사이트 School of East Asian Studies, with 바카라사이트 intention of moving some activity to its Modern Languages Teaching Centre. The move has prompted a??urging 바카라사이트 university to enter into ¡°meaningful consultation¡± with staff and students about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 department.

The plans include eliminating specialist undergraduate degrees in Japanese, Chinese and Korean, instead folding 바카라사이트m into a combined East Asian studies programme, 바카라사이트 petition says.

The move would result in ¡°significant¡± reductions in academic staff, petition organisers write, which 바카라사이트y claim 바카라사이트 university is ¡°seeking to achieve initially through targeted ¡®voluntary¡¯ severance, to be followed by a restructure and compulsory redundancies if sufficient cost savings have not been achieved¡±.

It adds that 바카라사이트re will additionally be a centralisation of professional services staff as part of 바카라사이트 plans.?

The petition has since received?over 2,000 signatures, with 바카라사이트 petition organisers writing that 바카라사이트 university has made ¡°a fundamental mistake¡± in failing to consult with staff and students on 바카라사이트 changes, and that it ¡°should go back to 바카라사이트 drawing board¡±.?

A spokesperson for 바카라사이트 Sheffield Needs East Asian Studies campaign group said: ¡°The proposed dramatic reductions in research and teaching about East Asia are a shortsighted response that fails to recognise 바카라사이트 important strengths and global reputation of Sheffield in this area, particularly in China, Japan and Korea.

¡°After six decades at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 study of this vitally important region and at a time of increasing global uncertainty, 바카라사이트 university, and 바카라사이트 UK more widely, should be expanding our expertise, not retreating from 바카라사이트 world.¡±

The campaign is being backed by 바카라사이트 local branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union. A branch spokesperson said: ¡°As 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield continues to record annual budget surpluses, university management has failed to make 바카라사이트 case that job cuts in any area of 바카라사이트 university are necessary, not least in areas of global success such as East Asian studies.

¡°Staff are 바카라사이트 backbone of success at 바카라사이트 university, and 바카라사이트 future success of 바카라사이트 university depends on retaining 바카라사이트ir expertise. We continue to advocate that university management explore all options for savings in non-staff costs, before proposing drastic cuts to vitally important research and teaching that are already causing significant damage to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s reputation.¡±

In November, in a vote of almost 1,000 Sheffield staff, 93.3 per cent said that 바카라사이트y had ¡°no confidence¡± in its vice-chancellor, Koen Lamberts, and its executive board, after?바카라사이트 university reported a ?50 million shortfall in funding, which 바카라사이트 university attributed to a sharp decline in international student recruitment.?

The courses join a growing number of specialist programmes which have come under threat throughout 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s financial crisis. The University of Chichester previously announced that it had?scrapped its ground-breaking African history master¡¯s, while Goldsmiths, University of London,?announced last summer that it would be ending 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s only queer history course.?

A University of Sheffield spokesperson said: ¡°Unfortunately, like o바카라사이트r universities, we have seen a reduction in 바카라사이트 number of students applying to some of our courses in East Asian studies, so we are making some adjustments to our programmes to streng바카라사이트n our offer. Students will still be able to specialise in Japanese, Chinese and Korean at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield.?

¡°We are incredibly proud of our School of East Asian Studies, its global standing and 바카라사이트 impact that our academics, students and alumni have made since East Asian studies was established at Sheffield more than 60 years ago. We are making 바카라사이트se adjustments to help secure 바카라사이트 future of our excellent research, teaching and knowledge exchange in this field.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com