Want to Get Involved in the #SaveUOALanguages Campaign?

 

If you want to get involved with thew #SaveUOALanguages Campaign, we want to hear from you! Sign up to allow us to contact you about upcoming campaigning events you can get involved with, and help us #SaveUoALanguages! 

Things you can do now:

1. Sign up to be kept up to date now
2. Check our social media linktree for the most up-to-date info
3. Reach out to your MSP (who you can find here)

You can find more updates below:

________________________________

 

Update: 21/12/2023

Updated from the Vice President for Education

 

What is happening with Modern Languages, and why is this a problem?

The University has decided to not admit any students to single honours language degree programmes for 2024. This effectively eliminates these degrees before the end of any consultation period.

Joint honours language degrees, while they will remain, are facing significant cuts to staff (up to 52%) and course offerings, meaning a drop in quality. Our joint honours degrees are currently strong because of the breadth of offerings and specialities of staff within single honours programmes.

The entire Modern Languages consultation is built on disputed data. Decisions are being made without agreement on basic staff/student numbers or financial data.

The University increased the consultation period from 45 days to one month and 45 days. This is not enough time to fully develop meaningful alternate proposals. Rather than an open conversation, where students and staff are able to discuss proposals for full consideration, we have been presented with one option, with a mindset of ‘this is our decision unless you can convince us otherwise.’

This is not just about language degrees. This sets a dangerous precedent for future decisions regarding programmes. We must continue sending the message to management that they cannot act with disregard for their community of staff and students.

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday!

Rhiannon

Vice President for Education

________________________________

 

Update: 21/12/2023

‘The Culture of Language’ Art Competition

WetPaint Collective, the group that brought us the ‘Lingua Franca’ performance art piece in the library, will be running an art competition from 21 December – 15 January. Show your support for the Modern Languages department and staff by creating works that visually express the importance of language. Any medium can enter!

To enter, simply:

1. Post your work on Instagram and tag #wetpaintcompetition2023, #SaveUoALanguages, @wetpaint2023
2. Email your work to WetPaintProject2023@gmail.com

Works must be about EITHER:

1. The importance of the Modern Languages department
2. Student perspectives on the Modern Languages predicament
3. Actions the Uni can take towards creating a sustainable department

*Aggression towards any UoA staff will not be tolerated (please channel your anger creatively).

The winning work gets £50!

Entries will be judged by a panel on:

1. Creativity – How unique is your portrayal of the UoA Languages crisis?
2. Subject Clarity – Can someone new to the issue understand the meaning of your piece?

Submitted works will go towards future #SaveUoALanguages campaign efforts!

________________________________

 

Update: 21/12/2023

________________________________

 

Update: 21/12/2023

Updated from the Vice President for Education

 

What is happening with Modern Languages, and why is this a problem?

The University has decided to not admit any students to single honours language degree programmes for 2024. This effectively eliminates these degrees before the end of any consultation period.

Joint honours language degrees, while they will remain, are facing significant cuts to staff (up to 52%) and course offerings, meaning a drop in quality. Our joint honours degrees are currently strong because of the breadth of offerings and specialities of staff within single honours programmes.

The entire Modern Languages consultation is built on disputed data. Decisions are being made without agreement on basic staff/student numbers or financial data.

The University increased the consultation period from 45 days to one month and 45 days. This is not enough time to fully develop meaningful alternate proposals. Rather than an open conversation, where students and staff are able to discuss proposals for full consideration, we have been presented with one option, with a mindset of ‘this is our decision unless you can convince us otherwise.’

This is not just about language degrees. This sets a dangerous precedent for future decisions regarding programmes. We must continue sending the message to management that they cannot act with disregard for their community of staff and students.

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday!

Rhiannon

Vice President for Education

________________________________

 

Update: 15/12/2023

Student Council Reaffirms Support for #SaveUOALanguages Campaign

At its meeting held on the 14th of December, our Student Council voted to approve updates to its policy of support for the #SaveUOALanguages following recent developments, including the decision of the University Court. 

You can read the updated policy here. 

________________________________

 

Update: 12/12/2023

Reaction to the University Court Decision

Reacting to the decision of the University Court, Vice President for Education Rhiannon Ledwell said:

“Court’s decision is incredibly disappointing. This outcome does not make a commitment to protecting staff jobs, or our degree provisions. In fact, if the proposals go through, 50% of staff within the department are still likely to lose their jobs. Axing single Language Degrees, including Gaelic, before the end of the consultation, makes a mockery of the entire process and is a serious violation of the University’s own Gaelic Language Plan.

"Extending the consultation by a month is a tokenistic gesture at best and does not allow for meaningful changes that could save both degrees and jobs. Once again, the University of Aberdeen has left students in limbo, and staff fearing for their futures and jobs over Christmas. This “solution” is cruel, unnecessary, and shows how little that the University’s cares about its students and staff.”

________________________________

 

Update: 06/12/2023

Senate votes overwhelmingly to stop University of Aberdeen language cuts

Senate, the highest academic governing body within the institution, has voted to stop the consultation process on its modern language programmes at the University of Aberdeen. The body, made up of a powerful mix of senior management, academic staff, and elected student officers, voted in a landslide victory to recommend that the consultation process on the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture (LLMVC) be halted with immediate effect.

The first motion – which passed with a majority 87 in support 3 against – confirmed Senate’s authority in the matter with a second motion calling for the consultation to be paused to allow for meaningful talks to resume passing swiftly afterwards with a 78 to 15 majority.

Students’ Union Vice President for Education Rhiannon Ledwell said:

“This decisive vote shows the undeniable support to stop the consultation, save staff jobs and preserve language degrees among its academic staff and students, not just within the language school, but throughout the university as a whole.

“The motion will be escalated to University Court on Tuesday – who now have a duty to do the right thing and uphold the will of students and staff and stop the consultation on modern languages, allowing time for meaningful discussions to take place.

“To allow this rushed, knee-jerk consultation to continue over the holiday period would be cruel and entirely unnecessary, and subjecting our hardworking languages staff to this uncertainty right before Christmas is unfathomable. Court must uphold the will of Senate and ensure the consultation is not allowed to continue unchecked, and that the university comes back to the table and consults both staff and students in a meaningful way before any more irreparable damage is done.”

The Students’ Union in partnership with University and College Union (UCU) will be holding a rally to petition Court to uphold the vote and stop the consultation on Monday 11^th December at 6pm at New King’s on campus.

Attend our rally in partnership with UCU: Save Modern Languages Rally at Room NK1, New Kings Building, Old Aberdeen Campus event tickets from TicketSource

________________________________

 

Update: 01/12/2023

Students’ Union Call for Languages Consultation To Be Halted And Jobs To Be Saved

This week the University launched a consultation on the future of Modern Languages at the University. In response, our Vice President for Education, Rhiannon Ledwell, has:

• Written to the Senior Vice-Principal of the University asking for the consultation to be halted allowing for proper consideration to be given to a wider set of options where degrees and jobs are protected.
• Written to local Members of the Scottish Parliament asking for urgent meetings to discuss the University’s proposals.
• Written to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills asking for the Scottish Government to intervene. 

Responding to the University of Aberdeen’s controversial consultation on the future of language provision Vice President for Education Rhiannon Ledwell said:

“The University must stop this consultation now. To put staff jobs at risk over the Christmas period is cruel and unnecessary. We understand the University’s position is that the Language School needs to react to the current financial challenges, but this must be done correctly, not quickly, with full involvement from students and staff. This consultation is both a panicked and knee jerk reaction that will damage the University’s reputation worldwide and deter future generations of students from studying languages.

“Students are furious that lecturers’ careers and their futures are at risk. The University must commit to no compulsory redundancies and to engaging in a genuine plan to save Language degrees. On the day after the Scottish Government launched the “Scottish Languages Bill” to enhance protections of Gaelic culture and language, the University of Aberdeen have taken a step in the opposite direction.”

You can read the emergency motion passed by our Student Council here. 

________________________________

Ways to get involved:

• Sign the petition: www.change.org/p/save-language-translation-interpreting-degrees-at-the-university-of-aberdeen
• Reach out to your MSP (who you can find here)
• Write a 1-star Google Review for the University, regarding the consultation. If your review is taken down, repost! 

Resources

• Letter to alumni and donors, encouraging them to withhold donations until the University commits to protecting our language degrees and all staff jobs. (English and Gaelic versions)
• UCU Resources: https://linktr.ee/uoaucu