UCML Executive Committee Meeting
24th October 2014
Europe House
Present – Jocelyn Wyburd, Naomi Segal, Teresa McKinnon, Paul Rowlett, Elodie Vialleton, Ulrich Tiedau, Elena Polisca, Paul Starkey (for James Dickins), Diana Holmes, Rebecca Tipton, Catherine Chabert, Kathy Wight (for Catriona Cunningham), Zena Hilton (minutes).
- Apologies
1.a. Lesley Twomey, Jane Magee, John Morley, Gerda Wielander,James Dickins, Andrew Ginger, Daniela La Penna, Margaret Littler, Ramona Gonczol, Kate Beeching, John Gillespie, Mary Fischer, Rachel Middleton, Shirley Lawes.
1.b. Jocelyn welcomed newly elected members, Diana Holmes (French Studies), Catherine Chabert (Wales) and the new HEA representative, Catriona Cunningham, who is today represented by Kathy Wight.
1.c.Thanks to European Commission for providing us with a room at no cost for this meeting today and previous meetings.
1.d.Accuracy
item 11 - May 2015 general election
- Issues arising
Today’s meeting had originally been scheduled for 17th October.
2.REF results are scheduled for December and will be disseminated in due course. Analysis should be complete for the February meeting of the Executive Committee.
2.“Thriving for the public good” / mentoring new heads of departments is an annual event and for 2014/15 it is planned for March/April with UCML and LLAS. “Thriving through collaboration” is the possible title for the session, aimed at new and experienced HODs, with guided discussion, topics to include marketing and rebranding, linking to the catalyst bids, more pathways for post GCSE and A level, staff planning for sustainability, the dichotomy of degree programmes and IWLP, and internationalisation strategies.
2. and 4a. – There has been recent contact with ALL. Paul spoke to Rene and he has contacted new director, Rachel Middleton.
3a.–A survey on year abroad fees is still considered useful, following a brief discussion. It was felt that it should not be anonymous as all the information is in the public domain. It should also cover both European and non-European destinations. Paul volunteered to do this.
ACTION Paul Rowlett
3c.–Paul updated the group on ALCAB, as Shirley Lawes is attending an ALCAB meeting at the same time as this meeting. Early reports seem to show that the essayswill all be in target language, after initially being proposed that one be in English. The number of themes has now been reduced. This will be a change for English exam boards only (not WJEC).
5a.Apologies from Naomi for not doing this.
6c. – Social media would be used to advertise jobs. The UCML site is just for UCML news.
- Chair’s report and discussion of any issues arising from the report
See report online.
3a.The steering group discussed planning for the next plenary in January. Covering the REF had been proposed, but it will be too soon for this, so it is now proposed for July instead. See 7c below for new plans for January plenary.
3b.The HEFCE annual meeting did not mention SIVs. The HE sector needs to compete internationally, but everything else discussed at the meeting was national. For example, interactive maps on student mobility were shown, but they have no international/ year abroad references. Also, there was some mention of student visas, but no mention of wider internationalisation issues, like EMI etc.
3c.At the Language Show, a Born Global event took place. Findingsfrom year one can now be found on the British Academy website. Various issues were raised about the employability of language graduates. Richard Hardie, Born Global chair, said that the HE panel on the Saturday was really useful meeting and wanted to organise a meeting to discuss employers and language degrees further. Paul said that it was essential to get some of these messages across to the sector. It may be useful to go to back to the Shaping the Future document on “skills and attributes of the language graduate”. The HEA is doing work on employability and some strategic projects. Jocelyn will add more info to UCML site in due course and is planning a meeting with Born Global.
3d. OWRI –Jocelyn has been asked to be on the panel for expressions of interest only. JW has been asked as UCML for wider public engagement, not as a research expert and she made that clear to AHRC etc. This is further evidence thatAHRC are taking UCML seriously.
3e. Catalyst – The West of England bid is being revived again, Catherine said. The other two bids have been sent back after going to the scrutiny board, and are being worked on again for future submission.
3f.The ConseilEuropéen pour lesLangues/European Language Council meeting in Brussels on 4-5th Dec for 2 days. Jocelyn can’t attend, so Catherine Chabert volunteered.
ACTION Catherine to attend and report back. Note: since the meeting, Catherine confirmed she is not available. Paul Rowlett will represent UCML instead.
- Report from Vice Chair(Language and Intercultural Education)
See report online.
4a.There is a possible letter writing campaign with ALL, but they may work with CfSA instead.
ACTION: Paul to draft something for HE institutions to send out to MPs.
4b. There is a Language Alliance meeting on 11th December with Tristram Hunt. Pam Moores may attend, and could perhaps represent UCML too, as she is on the list.
4c.Just released yesterday is data related to the mid October deadline. There is a decline in applications in the UK, but only in certain sectors.There was a short discussion about group Y data (language plus other subject combinations i.e. joint honours). More detailed data will be available in January for the next plenary.
- Report from Vice Chair(Research)
See report online.
5a. Thanks to those who filled in for Naomi during her time away.
5b.There was a discussion about DTP and CDT and the contact with them. Naomi will ask them to think about good practice and mentioning ML PG opportunities.
5c.AHA – International Fellowship is just for US and India information today.
ACTION: Naomi to respond on behalf of UCML.
Everyone to send information to Naomi to pass on.
5d.HERA – Put information on website.
ACTION Naomi send info for website.
- Report from Vice Chair (External Communication and Engagement)
See report online.
6a. There was some discussion about membership and potentially opening up the afternoon plenary to anyone interested, and they pay a small fee to attend.
6b.A more interactive website and tweeting more information that is already on the website were discussed as useful next steps.
- Report from Honorary Secretary
See report online.
7a. Thanks to Kate Beeching and Margaret Littler as their term is up. A call for nominations for Linguistics and German Studies will follow.
7b.Thanks to James Dickins as he has now stood down. A call for nominations for Middle Eastern Studies will follow.
7c.Welcome to Diane and Catherine.
7d. For the January plenary, changes in qualifications will be on the agenda. Steve Parker, chair of ALCAB and John Hopper from DFE are confirmed to attend.
- Report from Treasurer to include discussion of how to mitigate budget shortfall
8a.Thanks to Marie for the archive of all the bank statements; there are no longer any gaps in bank statements.
8b. There has been formal approval of the new LLAS admin arrangements.
8c. In July at the AGM, there was a vote and it was agreed that university membership would go up to £200, but subject associations will stay at the same level.
8d.The idea of establishing a fundraising role was discussed, rather than just replying on subscriptions for income.
- Reports from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
See online for the report from Wales. No reports from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
9a.Jocelyn just mentioned that the “Mother Tongue +2” language policy in Scotland has been strongly articulated both pre- and post-referendum.
- Reports from other executive members
10a.French – no report
10b.Hispanic/Luso – see report online
10c.German – see report online. Thanks to DAAD and German resource sharing and the manynetworks promoting and supporting German.
10d.Area studies – no report
10e.Middle Eastern – see report online.
ACTION: Jocelyn to liaise with Paul Starkey/Oliver Bast (BRISMES) re concerns about Manchester closures.
10f.Italian – see report online
10g.Slavonic and East European – contact, but no report
10h.East Asian – no contact and no report
10i.Linguistics – see report and question raised in advance of meeting. Similar question raised at APPG by Dick Hudson this week about interest in language systems, but little reflection of this in new language A levels. Comparison between English A level and MFL A levels. UCML link up with UCGAL? Dick Hudson could be invited to speak at the plenary meeting in Jan.
ACTION:Jocelyn/Lesley to talk to Dick Hudson if there is space in the programme
10j.Language Teaching – see report. Thanks for such a detailed report, giving us information that we have not seen before.
ACTION Elena to send the report to Elizabeth Andersen as it may be helpful for the catalyst bid. This should be publicised and the report needs to be done every 3-4 years.
ACTION: Everyone to look at the report and check it for typos etc and then it can be publicised.
10k.Translating and Interpreting – See report online. There has been a huge growth of PG programmes.The Student Loans Company is to offer Masters PG funding.
10l. IWLP – The survey is underway. Looking at free extra curricular languages, as well as languages for all.
10m.ITE – See report online.
There was some discussion about initial teacher training and what UCML’s position should be in relation to language teacher training.
ACTION: Shirley and Jocelyn discuss outside the meeting.
- Plans for summer plenary
REF discussion. Look at things as they develop to shape the agenda.
- Report from the HEA
Enhancement events free to fellows at least until Christmas.
New to teaching event coming up.
Employability and internationalisation strategies and toolkits
ACTION: Kathy to keep UCML up to date on this.
- Report from the British Council
No report
- Report from LLAS/Routes
See report online for Routes
Joint UCML and LLAS thriving event discussed under item 2.
- Next dates
Friday 16th January 2015 – Plenary – check date Lesley with European Commission am/pm
Friday 20th March 2015 – Executive –Jocelyn not available; (perhaps change to 27th Feb or 27th March instead?)
ACTION: Lesley/Marie to check members’ availability on alternative dates
Friday 3rdJuly 2015 – Plenary
Friday 23rd October 2015 - Executive (TBC)
- Any other business
Diana apologised for not providing a report for the meeting.