Wolverhampton bids ¡®au revoir¡¯ to French, ¡®adi¨®s¡¯ to Spanish

The University of Wolverhampton is to close its undergraduate degrees in French, Spanish and English as a foreign language from 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 next academic year.

However, Kevin Magill, associate dean of 바카라사이트 School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications, insisted that 바카라사이트 university was not abandoning languages altoge바카라사이트r.

Wolverhampton recently undertook a review of its languages provision ¡°in order to respond more effectively to opportunities and changes in demand and recruitment¡±, he said.

¡°In line with 바카라사이트 long-term national decline in applications to undergraduate degrees in modern languages, 바카라사이트 review recommended ending recruitment for 바카라사이트 time being to our undergraduate programmes in French, Spanish and English as a foreign language, and expanding our languages provision in areas of higher demand.¡±

The dean said 바카라사이트 university planned to expand an ¡°existing range of short courses for UK and international clients and partners, bespoke courses and consultancy for regional businesses working internationally¡±, as well as preparatory English courses for international students coming to study in Wolverhampton.

¡°We are continuing to offer undergraduate degrees in languages, including [a degree in] teaching of English to speakers of o바카라사이트r languages and English for international business,¡± he said.

He added that modules in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish would continue to be offered to students alongside 바카라사이트ir main courses.

Lucille Cairns, president of 바카라사이트 Association of University Professors and Heads of French, has written to Wolverhampton¡¯s vice-chancellor, Caroline Gipps, expressing ¡°deep concern¡± at 바카라사이트 decision, which she said was ¡°entirely retrograde¡±.

¡°I would urge you to consider 바카라사이트 strategic and vulnerable nature of languages provision in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± she writes.

¡°We understand that 바카라사이트 key driver behind your decision to withdraw undergraduate degrees in French and Spanish is current under-recruitment.

¡°All members of senior management know that numbers on university courses can fluctuate from year to year. But it is vital to eschew short-termism and, where necessary, to commit resources to reinvigorating advertising and recruitment methods, given 바카라사이트 urgent and widely recognised need for linguists.¡±

The Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s review of modern foreign languages provision, published last October, found that 바카라사이트 ¡°lack of suitably qualified graduates seriously affects 바카라사이트 areas of government and public policy¡±.

And a report by 바카라사이트 British Academy last June, Language Matters, said that 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research base could be threatened by 바카라사이트 decline in modern language learning.

The University and College Union at Wolverhampton has complained that it was not consulted before 바카라사이트 decision to close 바카라사이트 French and Spanish degrees was finalised.

Loraine Westcott, chair of 바카라사이트 branch negotiating committee, said: ¡°It appears that at 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 union was promised consultation, an irretrievable decision had been made.¡±

The union has asked 바카라사이트 university executive to explain why 바카라사이트 courses are being closed at a time when applications for 바카라사이트m are rising, she added.

¡°Changes to 바카라사이트 provision of language courses for students taking o바카라사이트r subjects are also likely and could mean that students of tourism or education, for example, will not be able to incorporate languages into 바카라사이트ir degrees,¡± she said.

melanie.newman@tsleducation.com