In the context of threats to Modern Languages degrees at the University of Aberdeen, an online postcard campaign has been launched. Please see below how you can take part and disseminate.
The University of Aberdeen is facing a sudden major financial deficit, in the context of which it has announced that it intends to make ‘drastic changes’ to LLMVC (School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture), with a particular focus on Modern Languages. It has been indicated so far that the University will be committed to languages learning but is not necessarily aspiring to maintaining languages degrees (in French, Gaelic, German and Spanish). Such a move threatens the existence of degree programmes that have been in place for a century or more (French and German since 1898, Spanish since 1924, and the first Gaelic lecturer appointed in 1916, whilst Gaelic has been present since the University’s Foundation in 1495).
The current direction of travel would create significant issues in terms of the offer of language degrees in the north of Scotland. There is an obvious reliance in the region on the University to train graduates and teachers for the broader area, as a matter of civic duty and social justice, as part of its Charity mission. As a department, staff in Modern Languages have an excellent reputation in both teaching and research, and would be the university’s best resource to come up with solutions.
Please support the Postcard Campaign to showcase to Senior Management at the University of Aberdeen all the reasons why an ancient university with an international outlook should keep language degrees.
- Colleagues at Aberdeen have launched a postcard campaign – please send one or more postcards to management at the University of Aberdeen, using the pdfs in this folder, and share widely across the sector: Cards to save languages degrees at Aberdeen – Google Drive.
Please post on social media with hashtags #CallingChris #Greetings2George #Card2Karl - UCFL has written a statement of support for languages degrees at Aberdeen, which are currently under review.
- Charles Burdett, Director of the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (SAS, University of London), has written a piece for Times Higher Education, questioning the direction of travel at the University of Aberdeen: Teaching modern languages without culture will harm global relations.