The Australian Society for French Studies (ASFS) would like to add its voice to the existing petitions and international advocacy to express grave concerns and strong opposition to the proposed cuts in the Language, Translation & Interpreting degrees at the University of Aberdeen (UK) and the proposal by Macquarie University (Australia) to eliminate five languages, including Croatian, German, Italian, Modern Greek and Russian.
Further to all of the important arguments already raised around the world by prominent scholars, societies, academies, and associations, including the harm in global relations that these cuts are likely to produce, the loss of internationalisation opportunities for the universities involved, the erosion of intercultural understanding, the fall in interinstitutional and international research and teaching collaborations, we would like to highlight the irreversible international reputational damage that these cuts would entail for the universities involved.
These are well-respected programmes worldwide, with strong alumni networks, delivered by recognised teachers and researchers who are respected and valued by their international colleagues. We urge Macquarie University and the University of Aberdeen to engage with staff in the relevant disciplines to find solid, long-sighted, forward-looking pathways to preserve these important programmes.