Last week, a new petition was set up to save the languages department at the University of Birmingham – you can find it here. This petition is broader in scope than the previous letters and counter-proposals, which were directed to students and alumni. The petition exceeded its target of 1,000 signatures within 48 hours, and… Read More Messages of support from the petition
See the facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/970656426304416/ This Wednesday, In Strathcona Lecture Theatre 4 (R18 on the campus map) the University is holding a consultation meeting with students to gather our feedback on their proposal. We do not need to have the proposal explained to us another time. We have not simply misunderstood, and we certainly do not… Read More Wednesday 16th March, 4pm: Consultation Meeting
On 9th March, the Birmingham Mail reported that union members at the University of Birmingham have voted for weeks of strike action in April, June and beyond, in response to the restructuring plans. BUCU spokesman Carl Chinn stated: “We will not accept any compulsory redundancies. This just goes to show the strength of feeling among our members.… Read More Birmingham Mail Coverage: “Weeks of strikes at University of Birmingham threatened in bitter cuts row”
For immediate release ~ More than the entire modern languages department have come out in opposition ~ Students and staff at The University of Birmingham are working to oppose the compulsory redundancy of 12 staff in the university’s Department of Modern Languages. Most at risk are language teaching staff, many of whom are native speakers.… Read More *Press Release* Over 1000 sign against restructuring plans at University of Birmingham
Dear Vice Chancellor, We, the undersigned students of Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham, are writing to express our shock and concern at the proposals to “increase the proportion of research-active staff in the Department, while decreasing the proportion of teaching-only staff”. Naturally, no University of quality is without a strong Modern Languages Department.… Read More Open Letter from Modern Languages students
I am writing to express significant concerns regarding the proposed restructuring of the Modern Languages Department, which are shared by all those who have co-signed this email. First of all, as someone who is currently studying Basque I am extremely disappointed to hear that if the proposal goes through, both Basque and Galician programs will… Read More Letter from a Basque studies student
THE MODERN LANGUAGES RESTRUCTURING: WHY SHOULD WE CARE AND WHAT CAN WE DO? The department of modern languages is undergoing changes to ‘revitalise its curriculum and enhance its research capacity’, according to a long and vague email circulated to students on 2nd Feb. But what does this mean, and why do our lecturers need our… Read More Modern Language Department Restructuring – The Basics
Resist the Restructuring 