British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
British Academy’s University Challenge: Stop the Monoglot
The British Academy has written to universities across the UK pressing for action to address the rapid decline in foreign language learning. The move was announced at the Academy's AGM by Baroness Onora O’Neill, as she stepped down from her presidency following a four year term. In her address, she emphasised the urgent need for universities to ‘lead where government policy has failed’ by introducing a foreign language requirement for university study. She also criticised the closing of language departments as ‘short-sighted’ follows the British Academy’s Language Matters report (June 2009) which revealed the effect the fall in modern language learning is having in education, research, and on the wider economy.
Baroness O’Neill said:
“There are alarming implications for research and more widely, of declining study of foreign languages at our schools and universities. We are at risk of developing a monoglot research cadre, not to mention sending monoglot graduates into professional life.
“I believe that closing language departments will prove short-sighted and will damage both research in many subjects and the future prospects of graduates. I have written to all Vice-Chancellors, suggesting that they give a lead where government policy has failed, and follow UCL in introducing language learning in the first year for students who do not meet a language matriculation requirement.”
The Academy is also contributing to the Review of Modern Foreign Languages Provision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) – setting clear and practical guidelines for universities to address the crisis through:
- adopting a wider definition of ‘internationalisation’ rather than focus simply on the recruitment of overseas students.
- ensuring that internationalisation (in its broadest sense) and language learning are at the heart of their strategies.
- emulating the example set by University College London (UCL), which from 2012 will require students on entry to degree programmes (regardless of discipline) either to hold a GCSE (or equivalent) in a modern foreign language or to take a language qualification during their degree.
- encouraging their students to take time out of their studies to work or study abroad.
For further information, please contact: Kate Turnbull, Press and PR Manager: 0207 969 5263 / k.turnbull@britac.ac.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
Published:
19 July 2009
- Baroness Onora O’Neill has just finished her four year term at the British Academy. She chairs the Nuffield Foundation and is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. She has been a member of and chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Human Genetics Advisory Commission, and was closely involved in work on a number of reports on bio-medical issues. She was formerly Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge. She was created a Life Peer in 1999 (Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve), sits as a crossbencher, and has served on House of Lords Select Committees on Stem Cell Research and BBC Charter Review.
- The British Academy report Language Matters was launched in June 2009 at an event attended by Minister for Higher Education, Rt Hon David Lammy MP. The discussion paper drew attention to the alarming implications for research, and more widely of declining study of foreign languages at schools and in universities. For a copy of the report, please contact the Press Office on 0207 969 5263
- The British Academy, established by Royal Charter in 1902, champions and supports the humanities and social sciences. It aims to inspire, recognise and support excellence and high achievement across the UK and internationally. For more information, please visit www.britac.ac.uk