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Language degrees to be reviewed Language degrees to be reviewed
(4 days later)
The health of language provision at England's universities will be reviewed amid concern at cuts to course budgets. England's higher education funding council is to review the health of language provision amid concern about cuts to university courses' budgets.
Several universities have seen funding allocations for languages cut following a research assessment exercise by the higher education funding council. Several have had reduced funding for languages following an assessment of research by the funding council.
Oxford University said its modern languages budget had been cut by £1m for the year 2009-10.Oxford University said its modern languages budget had been cut by £1m for the year 2009-10.
On Monday, students at Edinburgh University will protest over cuts they say threaten courses in two languages. In Scotland, too, students at Edinburgh University will protest over cuts which they say threaten two languages.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), which will announce the study next week, said there would be a major review of language provision in universities throughout England, to report in September. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), which will announce the study this week, said there would be a major review of language provision in universities throughout England, to report in September.
It will be led by vice-provost of University College London, Professor Michael Worton, and will make recommendations to the government aimed at the "long-term sustainability and vitality of modern foreign languages".It will be led by vice-provost of University College London, Professor Michael Worton, and will make recommendations to the government aimed at the "long-term sustainability and vitality of modern foreign languages".
The Westminster government has made it a priority to ringfence money for science and engineering subjects in higher education. The Westminster government has made it a priority to ring-fence money for science and engineering subjects in higher education.
Funding allocations made after last year's Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) reflect this.Funding allocations made after last year's Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) reflect this.
The RAE decided universities' share of £1.5bn in research funding.The RAE decided universities' share of £1.5bn in research funding.
A spokesman for Hefce said more money had been allocated to both humanities and science subjects after the assessment exercise, but that science and engineering had benefited more.A spokesman for Hefce said more money had been allocated to both humanities and science subjects after the assessment exercise, but that science and engineering had benefited more.
He said money was provided to universities in a "block grant" and institutions were responsible for their own strategic decisions.He said money was provided to universities in a "block grant" and institutions were responsible for their own strategic decisions.
AnxietyAnxiety
A spokeswoman for Oxford University said there was "an element of disappointment" that the high rating given to its modern languages teaching had not translated into increased funding or even equivalent funding to last year.A spokeswoman for Oxford University said there was "an element of disappointment" that the high rating given to its modern languages teaching had not translated into increased funding or even equivalent funding to last year.
The university was "reviewing how it would deal with the financial challenge", she said.The university was "reviewing how it would deal with the financial challenge", she said.
Aspects of Hefce review Recent policy and the impact of investmentDemand for and destination of graduatesResearch performance of language departmentsWhether provision meets future economic needsImpact of emerging economies on language provision Source: HefceAspects of Hefce review Recent policy and the impact of investmentDemand for and destination of graduatesResearch performance of language departmentsWhether provision meets future economic needsImpact of emerging economies on language provision Source: Hefce
The Scottish Funding Council allocates money to Scottish universities, though it uses the results of the UK-wide RAE as a basis. In London, a protest against cuts at the languages and humanities department of Imperial College is being arranged for 3 June.
The Scottish Funding Council allocates money to Scottish universities, though it also uses the results of the UK-wide RAE as a basis.
Students at Edinburgh University say the cuts there will bring "proper language teaching to a disastrous end".Students at Edinburgh University say the cuts there will bring "proper language teaching to a disastrous end".
The Edinburgh University Students' Association said Russian and Portuguese were immediately under threat.The Edinburgh University Students' Association said Russian and Portuguese were immediately under threat.
It said the decrease in funding would mean the termination of contracts for foreign language assistants, leaving students without essential oral tuition.It said the decrease in funding would mean the termination of contracts for foreign language assistants, leaving students without essential oral tuition.
"This has massive implications for anybody doing a language degree at Edinburgh, and for the reputation of the university in the future," the association said."This has massive implications for anybody doing a language degree at Edinburgh, and for the reputation of the university in the future," the association said.
But April McMahon, vice-principal and head of the faculty of humanities and social science, said there were no plans immediately to cut provision in any particular language and neither courses nor contact hours with foreign language assistants would be cut in 2009-10.But April McMahon, vice-principal and head of the faculty of humanities and social science, said there were no plans immediately to cut provision in any particular language and neither courses nor contact hours with foreign language assistants would be cut in 2009-10.
She said in a statement that students' anxiety was "entirely understandable".She said in a statement that students' anxiety was "entirely understandable".
"All subject areas in the school are currently writing plans which we will consider at the end of June, and consultation is proceeding with staff and students as to the best ways of maintaining excellence in teaching while managing the current financial situation," she said."All subject areas in the school are currently writing plans which we will consider at the end of June, and consultation is proceeding with staff and students as to the best ways of maintaining excellence in teaching while managing the current financial situation," she said.
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