Motion 34
Modern Languages Provision in Higher Education
“That this Congress condemns the recent decision by senior managers at Aberdeen University to cut teaching and research in modern languages, putting 30 members of staff at risk of redundancy.
“Congress notes this decision will leave Aberdeen the only ‘ancient’ university in the world not to offer research degrees in modern languages and that, within Scotland, there will be no advanced training in modern languages north of the Tay. The decision by senior managers damages the university and also the reputation of Scottish higher education.
“Congress believes that for Scotland to be an outward facing, global nation, we need to be supporting and developing the study of other languages and cultures across the education system and that cuts at Aberdeen follow on from cuts in other Scottish universities in recent years. Congress believes that the way modern languages is funded is problematic and doesn’t properly reflect the way that modern languages courses are taught.
“Congress believes that without modern languages being taught and researched in universities, there won’t be sufficient graduates undertaking initial teacher education in the subject to then teach students in schools, and that this will lead to the demand for languages diminishing further. Congress believes that such a scenario will harm Scotland’s reputation and place in the world.
“Congress calls on the General Council to:
• write to the Aberdeen University principal opposing cuts to their modern language provision;
• support efforts by staff, students and Aberdeen University UCU branch to defend jobs and modern languages at the University; and
• lobby the Scottish Government for sufficient funding for universities, ensuring that modern languages receive funding commensurate to the cost of teaching.”
Mover: University & College Union
RSS