21/05/2021
The consultation regarding the proposed cuts to history and languages at Aston University ended on 10 May. Thanks to the statements that so many of you have put forth and to the support from thousands of individuals and institutions worldwide, Aston University’s History programme and our postgraduate programmes in Translation Studies are no longer at risk.
However, the university has decided to phase out our BSc programmes in Modern Languages, due to the continuing decline in recruitment, not just at Aston but across the UK. Also phased out will be the option of studying a language for credit (UWLP) as part of a non-language degree in other disciplines. For now, our Languages for All provision for students who take an extracurricular language is secure, but this offer will undergo review in the coming months to evaluate how sustainable delivery can be achieved. In total, this means that 17 colleagues are still at risk of redundancy over the next 4-5 years.
This is a critical time for the humanities in the UK and beyond, and the argument for making sure that these do not become the preserve of a few is far from being won. In many other institutions in the UK and worldwide, similar cuts to those implemented at Aston are being carried out, despite the fact that graduates in these disciplines are highly sought-after by a wide range of employers and enrich any environment in which they operate. Let’s continue to reaffirm the importance of what we do through our work and mutual support. Again, yours was greatly appreciated. Thank you!
