UNIVERSITY COUNCIL OF MODERN LANGUAGES
PLENARY MEETING 30 JUNE 2008
LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
Present
Name / InstitutionPam / Moores / Aston University (Chair)
Cecilia / Garrido / Open University (Secretary)
Liz / Hudswell / LLAS Subject Centre (Minutes)
Elizabeth / Andersen / Newcastle University
Teresa / Birks / CILT
Dominique / Borel / Kings College London
Lottie / Bulman / DAAD
Nick / Byrne / LSE
Tim / Connell / City University
Hilary / Footitt / University of Reading
Santiago / Fouz-Hernandez / Durham University
Kate / Green
Murray / Hill / Robert Gordon University
Joan / Hoggan / British Council
Michael / Kelly / LLAS Subject Centre, University of Southampton
Daniela / La Penna / University of Reading
Pierre / Larrivee / Aston University/AFLS
Marie Odile / Leconte / Leeds Metropolitan University
Janet / Lewis / Coventry University
Janet / Lloyd / University of Salford
Dawn / Marley / University of Surrey
Hilary / Maxwell-Hyslop / Chartered Institute of Linguists
Lourdes / Melcion / Roehampton University
Eleanor / Quince / University of Southampton
Marion / Sadoux / London Metropolitan University
Paul / Smith / University of Nottingham
Birgit / Smith / Lancaster University
Kris / Spelman Miller / University of Reading
Vicky / Wright / University of Southampton
Jocelyn / Wyburd / University of Manchester
1. Apologies for absence
These were received from:
John Gillespie, Uwe Baumann, Annie Morgan-James, Lucille Cairns, Dan Wilson, Roger Baines, Matthew Treherne, Roel Vismans, Marie-Marthe Gervais-le Garff, Murray Pratt, Loredana Polezzi, Michael Hutt, Jonathan Bunt, Matthew Philpotts, Angela Kimyongur, David Holton, Clare Mar-Molinero, Paul Cooke, Linda Parker, Robert Gillett, Tony Chafer, Ulrike Zitzlsperger, Kim Woodruff, Bill Marshall, Teresa MacKinnon, Cathy Watts, Carol Tully, Martine Shepherd, Geoff Swinn, Robin Aizelwood, Terry Lamb, Daniel Newman
2. Minutes of the plenary meeting on 11 January 2008
Two small amendments were requested to the minutes. Otherwise, these were accepted as a true record of proceedings.
3. Matters arising from the minutes
No matters arising were noted as most items were to be discussed later in the meeting.
4. Officers’ reports
Chair (Pamela Moores)
PM thanked Liz Hudswell and Carol Churchouse for their effective administration of the elections; also both CILT and LLAS for their sharing of information and successful collaboration in support of UCML.
She went on to comment on language issues in the news; the need for UCML to raise its profile through public engagement; and her role over recent months as UCML representative and spokesperson on a range of bodies.
Independent Safeguarding Authority and ‘Vive la différence’( Guardian)
PM commented on a recent press article portraying the ‘joys and horrors’ of exchange visits, which had been prompted by information from the Independent Safeguarding Authority established by government to protect children (from November 2008), and the implications of new regulations for teachers, pupils and families participating in exchange visits.
UK host families will need to register with ISA if visiting children are to stay in their homes. Although this is not directly an HE issue, awareness of such developments has implications for language educators (and Routes into Languages partners campaigning to increase interest in language study).
British Academy consultation on Language Matters
PM had responded to the British Academy consultation on behalf of UCML and personally. She has been appointed a member of the BA working group looking at what research might be needed to persuade government and other influential decision-makers that languages matter. The working group, chaired by Dame Janet Nelson, comprises fellows of the British Academy (including Baroness Onora O’Neill), and ML experts such as Hilary Footitt and Mike Kelly.
Discussions at the first meeting centred on whether a strong economic case for language learning could be made. The consensus was that, though the economic argument was an important element, the case was more convincing if also based on the wider personal, cultural and intellectual benefits of learning languages.
PM invited members to contact her, Mike Kelly or Hilary Footitt if they had information or comments they wished to feed into discussions.
UCML representation on national bodies
PM represents UCML as follows:
· Higher Education Implementation Group for the National Languages Strategy. (This group includes representatives from the DCSF, DIUS, HEFCE and the British Council.)
· Steering Group for new ‘Languages’ Diploma.
· The UCML Chair and Secretary are members of the LLAS Advisory Board. PM recently represented UCML at CILT’s Advisory Forum on Research.
AHRC Rapid Response Group
PM has signed UCML up to this group, created to share information and views in response to AHRC decisions.
The AHRC has been consulting with Subject Associations to gather ideas on future directions for research funding, in particular with regard to replacement of the research leave matched funding scheme.
AHRC is also currently undergoing some reorganisation with the result that, in future there will be a specific named individual with responsibility for languages and linguistics.
Transitions and Connections – HE Languages conference, University of York
PM reminded those at the meeting of the forthcoming conference (July) being organised by LLAS and CILT in partnership with UCML, AULC and SCHML. There would be a Routes into Languages Strand at the conference and a drinks reception to celebrate the merger of SCHML and UCML.
Future plenary meetings
PM invited members to submit themes and ideas for future debates at plenary meetings.
She concluded her report by thanking members of the executive retiring from their posts in July for their contributions to UCML.
Secretary (Cecilia Garrido)
CG reported on the recent elections to the UCML executive. The new executive committee is given as an appendix to these minutes. UCML had sought nominations for 11 posts in February/March 2008. Of these, 6 had received only one nomination so the nominees were duly elected. The remaining posts had been contested in elections in May/June 2008.
Treasurer (Janet Lloyd)
JL presented a financial report to the meeting (see Appendix 2) She recommended that the annual subscription to UCML would be £150 to cover increased costs, and this was agreed.
5. Update on UCML/SCHML merger (Jocelyn Wyburd)
JW reported that Liz Hudswell from LLAS would be the joint list owner for the SCHML Jiscmail. SCHML had had its final AGM at which it dissolved itself. The minutes of that meeting would be sent to Pam Moores as Chair of the newly merged organisation. The final accounts would be audited in July and would then be transferred to the UCML accounts.
There would be a sub-group of the UCML executive responsible for organising workshops of the kind that SCHML have traditionally run. A number of members of the SCHML executive are now members of the UCML executive. JW explained that the SCHML workshops had been targeted particularly at those in leadership in modern languages departments.
JW acknowledged that many people had worked hard to ensure the smooth merger of the two organisations, and she particularly thanked members of the SCHML executive as well as Pam Moores, Liz Hudswell, Janet Lloyd and Marie-Odile Leconte.
6. Research Review in Modern Languages
Eleanor Quince of the University of Southampton reported on an event held on 25 April at the British Academy, looking at the review into research in Modern Languages carried out by UCML and LLAS. See Appendix 3
Following her presentation there was some discussion in which the following points were made:
Hilary Footitt noted that it is important for conference attendance to continue to be funded and suggested this be raised as an issue with the AHRC.
MHK noted that the structuring of PGR block grant applications to the AHRC requires applicants to separate out the different languages, which discriminates against those wishing to undertake interdisciplinary work. It would be good if UCML were to lobby for languages as a to be categorised as a single group.
7. Language Learning figures (Nick Byrne)
NB reported he had not received data from all institutions, but generally the figures were positive for take-up of language study in HEIs by non-specialists. Numbers of students taking a language module appeared to be continuing to increase. He noted that around 50 institutions had replied this year compared with 66 last year. He also reported that he would not be able to carry out this work next year due to new commitments, but that AULC were prepared to help fund a survey.
HF suggested that this be raised at the HEIG.
PM recorded her thanks to Nick Byrne for his work and endorsed the suggestion that it was important to continue to collect and analyse this data. This would be discussed further at the next meeting of the executive.
8. ELQ update
PM summarised the background to the ELQ policy. HEFCE have withdrawn funding for those students doing qualifications which are of equivalent or lower status to qualifications they already hold. At first, the languages community were reassured that languages were protected by their status as strategic and vulnerable subjects, but this is not absolutely the case. Languages are protected but not entirely exempt from the ELQ ruling. There is protection from the ELQ ruling if languages form 50% or more of the student’s curriculum on a degree programme. This exemption does not apply therefore to those studying on IWLP. PM had invited Paul Hazell or Alan Palmer from HEFCE to address the plenary meeting, but neither were available. Alan Palmer has agreed however to assist by clarifying any issues as far as possible.
PM proposed putting FAQs on the UCML website, and would welcome submission of any questions of principle (not detailed institutional questions) which could be forwarded to HEFCE for clarification and subsequent publication of responses.
MHK cautioned against pressing too hard in seeking precise clarification, as sometimes there is scope for interpreting regulations in a flexible and useful way. It was noted that HEIs have the freedom to allocate their HEFCE resources internally according to institutional priorities.
TC reported that the ELQ ruling would affect a large number of students at City University and CG said that the OU were considering a plan for action when this is brought into force.
It was suggested that this should be placed on the agenda at the next meeting of the HEIG.
9. UCML Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Wales
EJH noted that a report had been received from Carol Tully:
The two key matters to report from Wales were:
1. The Welsh Assembly Government is currently looking into the issues surrounding languages as part of their plan to revamp their 'Languages Count' strategy. They have been using CILT Cymru as a conduit for information and this has caused some concern amongst mainstream degree departments who feel that this does not help to acknowledge their particular concerns. Efforts to find some consensus on how best to solve this problem have met with limited success. Discussions are ongoing. However, more encouragingly, WAG are committed to fostering languages with a focus on progression from primary right through to degree and then teacher training.
2. Welsh HEIs are seriously concerned about the continuing funding gap between England and Wales which is very much to Wales' disadvantage. VCs in Wales are encouraging those with contacts in subject associations to lobby for a change. CT hopes that the national exec of UCML will be happy to lend their support to colleagues in Wales to do just that. CT will be contacting colleagues in Wales in the next week or so to seek support.
Scotland
Murray Hill reported on the petition he had submitted to the parliamentary committee. His paper had been commented on, and it had been sent to the Department for Education and Lifelong learning.
The Scottish Funding Council had produced a report on languages. The opening statement had suggested that languages in HE were in good shape, though MH reported in contrast that the majority of languages departments felt there was a crisis. A copy of the SFC report had been discussed at the UCML executive, who felt this was a misleading representation of the situation. SCILT and LLAS were responding to the report.
The funding council had suggested that there would be a symposium organised to discuss the issues, but this had not taken place. The SFC do not acknowledge that there are any difficulties as regards the study of languages.
MH also noted that RGU would not be offering languages modules this coming year, so his own position was therefore uncertain.
Debate followed as to what action might be taken.
MHK suggested that there might be a bid to the Carnegie Trust to carry out a concerted mapping of languages in HE.
Hilary Footitt suggested that using the International Agenda might be an effective lobbying tool, as this carries weight with Vice-Chancellors. She also suggested that it is helpful if the languages community establish good links with a journalist who can publicise the situation in the media.
It was noted that the political will to support languages in Scotland seems currently to be lacking, and that a concerted effort with lobbying might assist with this.
10. Update on Routes into Languages (Hilary Footitt)
HF noted that there is ‘a good story’ to tell about the Routes Programme. Excellent work is being carried out by the regional consortia, and good cooperation taking place between the Translation and Interpreting networks. She suggested UCML should publicise the achievements of the programme.
The three research reports had now been completed, which could be good starting points for discussions with decision makers.
Routes into Languages had commissioned the Hobsons report looking at students’ attitudes to languages. The executive summary is available on the Routes into Languages website.
The following challenges were noted:
How can the programme involve those institutions not currently involved in consortia or networks?
How might the activities of the programme be sustained after the funding term?
11. Report from the Subject Centre
Liz Hudswell picked out key activities from the written report which formed part of the papers circulated prior to the meeting.
12. Diploma Development Partnership Group– Languages Diploma