We are writing as a collective of students and academics in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham in response to the devastating prospect of Modern Languages courses not only being suspended, but potentially permanently removed, from the university programme.

The proposed Phase 2 of Future Nottingham, announced on Thursday 6th November, plans to suspend all undergraduate Modern Languages degrees. This is a decision which is deeply upsetting and disappointing for the 550 undergraduates studying Modern Languages here, who have gained so much, not only from our degrees, but also from the invaluable experience of studying or working abroad and experiencing other cultures first-hand. 

Studying a Modern Language equips students with a plethora of valuable assets, all on top of the essential linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Through a degree in Modern Languages, students gain a cultural understanding and global awareness that is vital and enables students to see the world empathetically and critically. Furthermore, the study of Modern Languages provides students with so many transferable skills which equip them for postgraduate jobs and the world of work: improved memory, communication, confidence, critical thinking, to name a few.

Frankly, we are shocked that a university that labels itself as ‘global’ and ‘beyond ordinary’ would make a decision which restricts language learning .The study of Modern Languages at UoN, and the incredibly knowledgeable, insightful team of lecturers within the Modern Languages department, is an integral and fundamental part of the university and, without it, the university simply cannot justify its label as a truly 'global' institution.

The proposals will also mean that it will no longer be possible to study any modern language to degree anywhere in the East Midlands and stands in contradiction of the University’s own civic commitments. The region, already identified as one of educational deprivation, will become a ‘cold spot’ for modern languages, affecting not only young people but also schools and teachers who work closely with the department.  

Few universities offer Russian, Mandarin, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese. To throw away the understanding of these languages and cultures, given their strategic and economic importance, seems reckless. 

We hope to fill this petition with signatures from people who, like us, hope for a university where Modern Languages degrees can rightfully continue to be seen as valuable and worthy, to shape a more diverse future and sustain our reputation as a “global” university. Please help us further by sharing personal testimonies and explaining why studying a language at UoN has been important for you, outlining precisely why it would be so devastating for future students miss out on such an enriching and rewarding opportunity.