Ulster University is planning to close its School of Modern Languages, the only faculty in Northern Ireland where undergraduates can study the Chinese and German languages.

The loss of language courses will disadvantage Northern Ireland in the increasingly competitive global market by reducing the number of graduates familiar with these key world languages.

It is worth noting that China is the world's single largest market and is likely to be a key driver of foreign investment in future years. Meanwhile, Germany remains the economic powerhouse of Europe and its industries are keen to invest in locations where graduates familiar with English and German can found.

The closure, alongside drastic cuts to other Arts departments, will accelerate the brain drain from Northern Ireland caused by successive rounds of University cutbacks. It is known that only a small portion of those students who leave the region to be educated elsewhere return.

We, the undersigned, request that you should reverse this dreadful decision to preserve the long-term economic competitiveness of Northern Ireland and maximise the supply of skilled graduates available for employment in the region.

In addition, we request that the Ulster University should reverse cuts to its History School in view of the importance of history to regional society and cuts to its Media School given the status of the creative industries (particularly film and television) as drivers of economic activity in the region.