500 signatures reached
To: University of Aberdeen Court
Stop the Consultation and Save UoA Languages!
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Dear Members of the University Court,
The students and staff of your institution need your help. You will no doubt be aware of the current consultation relating to the future of Modern Language provision at UoA, which has already caused much upset and anxiety to students and staff, and damage to the University’s reputation.
We write to urge you, in the strongest possible way, to ensure that this consultation is stopped immediately. Not only is this consultation deeply immoral and in opposition to the University’s mission and 2040 principles, it is also very clearly a rushed and panicked reaction that has not been thought through in any way, shape, or form. The unified voice of staff and students was exemplified at the Senate meeting on the 6th of December. Senate voted overwhelmingly to call upon the University Court to pause the consultation process to allow for meaningful discussion to resume.
We call upon Court to ensure that it retains decision-making power in this process and does not, under any circumstance, delegate full responsibility to UoA management in this matter. We have no confidence in the Steering Group to act in the interests of the University, its staff, or its students. The manner in which they have framed the consultation is a clear indication that they have already made up their minds regarding the outcome, despite the fact that conflicting data presented by SMT, and staff has not been satisfactorily reconciled. This process sets a dangerous precedent for future reviews of other schools and departments. This process must be done correctly, not quickly.
We want to be clear. We fully recognise the challenging financial situation that Modern Languages, and indeed the whole University, finds itself in. We also recognise that degree programmes need to evolve. But the consultation presents three extremely limited options and a timescale designed to make genuine change and helpful ideas impossible. Initiating a 45-day consultation before there is unanimous agreement that a redundancy sub-group should be formed goes against the University’s own policy
Not only is this proposal causing an incredible degree of fear and worry among staff who have been told that their jobs are at risk over the holiday period, it is also clear and undisputable that zero consideration has been given, in advance of its starting, on how student consultation would take place.
This is the exam and assessment period where students should be 100% focused on their studies. Students will then be away for the holidays, until after the consultation has finished on 15th January. The one session that was finally proposed for student involvement was scheduled on 8th December, a day when many language students have assessments due. Repeated requests to involve all students who engage in language courses were denied, as were requests to hold the meeting in-person.
If the intent was to ensure that the consultation was as inaccessible to students as possible, then it can be considered a glorious success. Both students and staff have been completely blindsided and have not been provided with time to respond in a meaningful manner.
The students and staff of your institution need your help. You will no doubt be aware of the current consultation relating to the future of Modern Language provision at UoA, which has already caused much upset and anxiety to students and staff, and damage to the University’s reputation.
We write to urge you, in the strongest possible way, to ensure that this consultation is stopped immediately. Not only is this consultation deeply immoral and in opposition to the University’s mission and 2040 principles, it is also very clearly a rushed and panicked reaction that has not been thought through in any way, shape, or form. The unified voice of staff and students was exemplified at the Senate meeting on the 6th of December. Senate voted overwhelmingly to call upon the University Court to pause the consultation process to allow for meaningful discussion to resume.
We call upon Court to ensure that it retains decision-making power in this process and does not, under any circumstance, delegate full responsibility to UoA management in this matter. We have no confidence in the Steering Group to act in the interests of the University, its staff, or its students. The manner in which they have framed the consultation is a clear indication that they have already made up their minds regarding the outcome, despite the fact that conflicting data presented by SMT, and staff has not been satisfactorily reconciled. This process sets a dangerous precedent for future reviews of other schools and departments. This process must be done correctly, not quickly.
We want to be clear. We fully recognise the challenging financial situation that Modern Languages, and indeed the whole University, finds itself in. We also recognise that degree programmes need to evolve. But the consultation presents three extremely limited options and a timescale designed to make genuine change and helpful ideas impossible. Initiating a 45-day consultation before there is unanimous agreement that a redundancy sub-group should be formed goes against the University’s own policy
Not only is this proposal causing an incredible degree of fear and worry among staff who have been told that their jobs are at risk over the holiday period, it is also clear and undisputable that zero consideration has been given, in advance of its starting, on how student consultation would take place.
This is the exam and assessment period where students should be 100% focused on their studies. Students will then be away for the holidays, until after the consultation has finished on 15th January. The one session that was finally proposed for student involvement was scheduled on 8th December, a day when many language students have assessments due. Repeated requests to involve all students who engage in language courses were denied, as were requests to hold the meeting in-person.
If the intent was to ensure that the consultation was as inaccessible to students as possible, then it can be considered a glorious success. Both students and staff have been completely blindsided and have not been provided with time to respond in a meaningful manner.
Why is this important?
Consideration must also be given to the University’s responsibility to Gaelic, which has been an integral part of the institution’s history since its inception. Any of the three current proposals would eliminate single honours Gaelic degrees. As one of only four institutions in the country which offer a Gaelic degree, this could be considered an attack on an already endangered language. This is unacceptable from an EDI perspective.
The consultation has shown a lack of awareness of this, as well as of the obligations to our Gaelic Language Plan, which requires that the University increase its teaching of Gaelic. This plan cannot, as the consultation states, be adapted to reflect the outcome of the consultation. The plan exists to hold the University accountable in situations such as these.
The University’s purpose states that “Since 1495, the University of Aberdeen has been open to all”, yet this consultation sends a clear signal to the international community that Aberdeen, Scotland, and the UK is not a welcoming place and feeds into the hostile environment that our international students face every day due to aggressive anti-immigration rhetoric from politicians and the media.
The reputational damage this process has already caused cannot be understated and is completely illogical from an institution that is so eager to attract students from across the world during a recruitment crisis. This decision is irreversible. If we rush this consultation now, there will be no going back should we see an increase in demand, or another shift in recruitment trends. Staff, reputation, and structures will be gone.
Please stop this consultation and take control of this process. Your students and your staff need you.
Yours sincerely,
The Students’ Union
Aberdeen UCU Branch
Unite the Union, Aberdeen Educational Branch
The National Union of Students Scotland
UNISON Aberdeen Universities Branch’
The consultation has shown a lack of awareness of this, as well as of the obligations to our Gaelic Language Plan, which requires that the University increase its teaching of Gaelic. This plan cannot, as the consultation states, be adapted to reflect the outcome of the consultation. The plan exists to hold the University accountable in situations such as these.
The University’s purpose states that “Since 1495, the University of Aberdeen has been open to all”, yet this consultation sends a clear signal to the international community that Aberdeen, Scotland, and the UK is not a welcoming place and feeds into the hostile environment that our international students face every day due to aggressive anti-immigration rhetoric from politicians and the media.
The reputational damage this process has already caused cannot be understated and is completely illogical from an institution that is so eager to attract students from across the world during a recruitment crisis. This decision is irreversible. If we rush this consultation now, there will be no going back should we see an increase in demand, or another shift in recruitment trends. Staff, reputation, and structures will be gone.
Please stop this consultation and take control of this process. Your students and your staff need you.
Yours sincerely,
The Students’ Union
Aberdeen UCU Branch
Unite the Union, Aberdeen Educational Branch
The National Union of Students Scotland
UNISON Aberdeen Universities Branch’
