Protest over future of university language courses

The protest has received letters of support from the Spanish and Cuban ambassadors to the UK

Students and lecturers held a protest over the potential future of modern languages courses after a university suspended entry for new students.

In April, the University of Nottingham announced more than 250 non-academic roles could be cut, with the vice-chancellor saying it was "grappling with significant financial challenges".

Wider plans affect 42 courses and include discussions over the future of music courses and a "proposal to reduce its nursing offer".

The university said "no decision is being made this week about course closures", with talks set to take place on Tuesday between the university council and unions.

Any students currently on courses will be supported to complete their studies, a spokesperson for the university said, and its council is set to make a decision on the future of the courses in the near future as part of plans to address a fall in revenue.

The university added all but four of its modern language courses had fewer than 10 students on them and they were currently "unsustainable".

Paul Smith, head of modern languages and cultures at the University of Nottingham, says his job and many others are under threat

Paul Smith, head of modern languages and cultures at the University of Nottingham, said even though he has had assurances the courses for current students would be honoured, he feared the quality of the degree programme would be diminished.

He added the closure of his department could affect 50 roles including his own and there would be no new students past 2026.

Mr Smith said: "We've had enormous support across the piece, not just from students but from embassies and parliamentarians as well as parents and former students fighting against the closure of modern languages.

"We think that's very short-sighted for a university that prides itself on being Britain's global university."

Markos Assiouras, a fourth-year student of Hispanic studies and Anoushka Pathak, a student in her final year of modern languages with business, are both against the proposals

Markos Assiouras, a fourth-year student of Hispanic studies, said the potential course closures could harm the UK's reputation for higher education.

"It's absolutely unacceptable what is happening to modern languages and we had to come to show our support," he said.

"It's horrific. It's a Russell Group university - it's unacceptable at any educational institution."

Anoushka Pathak, a student in her final year of modern languages with business, also spoke out against the proposals.

"I think it's an outrageous proposal for such a grand university with such a significance within the UK and internationally," she said.

"Languages are essential to our society and without them we're lost - we're losing culture and friendships.

"This is why we have so many international students coming here because we offer such a high standard of education - withdrawing all these courses, what is the attraction to come and study here where languages are not considered important?"

'Courses are unsustainable'

A University of Nottingham spokesperson said: "Council are meeting this week to discuss the opening up of engagement on the proposed closure of these courses from 26-27.

"No decision is being made this week about course closures. We will now be working with staff, students and the trade unions to help shape these proposals.

"We remain committed to being a multidisciplinary institution offering courses across the broad areas of arts, social sciences, science, engineering and medicine and health sciences, but we cannot continue to offer courses where there isn't the student demand.

"As a global university, we absolutely recognise the importance of language learning for personal development, cultural understanding, and employability.

"However, students are increasingly telling us that the way they want to learn languages is changing.

"Our modern languages degree courses are unsustainable but we currently have almost 2,000 students across all of our disciplines studying languages as part of their degree through our Language Centre, and we are planning to build this so all students have access to learning a language but in a way that better suits them."