Reverse cuts to modern language teaching at Aberdeen University

Kathleen Kennedy

#STUC24 Congress gave its full support to the University and Colleges Union in its fight against cuts to modern language teaching at Aberdeen University.

The General Council will lobby the Scottish Government for proper funding that reflects the costs of teaching these subjects.

Seconding the UCU motion, Aberdeen Trades Union Council’s Kathleen Kennedy said that these cuts were bad for the university, bad for the staff, bad for students but also bad for our communities in the North East of Scotland.

She told delegates that the North East already faces problems attracting teachers. “With an end to teaching and research in modern languages in the university there will be fewer prospective teachers graduating.”

“Instead of cutting provision, the university should be protecting these jobs and their expertise in modern languages. And the Scottish government should be funding it properly.

“It’s important not just for Aberdeen university’s reputation and for its staff and students, but for our communities in the North East of Scotland.