University Council of Modern Languages

Plenary meeting and AGM

Birkbeck College London

22 June 2012

Present

A full attendance list is provided in Appendix 1

1.  Apologies for absence

These were received from

Nick Byrne, Martin Durrell, Terry Lamb, Kate Beeching, Margaret Littler, Lucille Cairns, Ramona Gonczol, Uwe Baumann, Tony Chafer, Robert Gillett, Lourdes Melcion, Liz Andersen, Roger Baines, Pam Moores, Kris Spelman Miller, Janet Lewis.

2.  Minutes of the plenary meeting and AGM and matters arising

These were approved as a true record of proceedings. No items were taken under matters arising.

Updates from the key officers were provided in advance of the meeting and placed on the UCML website. Officers provided additional clarification of the key points of the report.

3.  Chair’s report

Key activities

Jim Coleman reported that the work funded by the British Academy, Valuing the Year abroad, had been the key activity since the last meeting. The British Academy has put the proceedings of the event in March on You Tube

In his response to the HEFCE consultation on behalf of UCML, the main theme had been Strategically Important and Vulnerable Subjects (SIVs). He noted that there is regular dialogue between UCML and HEFCE and that the relationship is a good one; UCML provides informal and confidential information to complement HEFCE’s knowledge about the sector.

Jim has completed the planned visits to departments though had been unable to get Swansea owing to the industrial action scheduled for that day. He has also spoken to the Association of University Professors and Heads of French (AUPHF) and the Heads of German Departments Group known as HOGMEET.

Since the last plenary meeting, there have been meetings of the UCML Executive, the Steering Group, the Higher Education Languages Group and the ALL Party Parliamentary Group on Languages.

Jim reported that he has participated in a LLAS workshop on the Year Abroad at Strathclyde University and an Employability event at QMUL. He will also be giving a plenary address at the Language Futures conference on 5-6 July in Edinburgh.

Jim’s proposals for a BBC programme on languages have not been accepted but he is hoping that a number of podcasts might be made instead.

The Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (the German equivalent of Universities UK) has issued a statement on what universities should provide in the area of languages. UUK has said that if UCML produces a statement, UUK will endorse it.

Context

Jim reported that the context is changing frequently and rapidly. It is possible to view the proceedings of Parliamentary select committees live online. Languages will continue to be excluded from the contestable student places.

The employability reports from the CBI and BCC are on the UCML website. Jim stressed the importance of using Shaping the Future resources. These are useful in promoting the employability of language graduates.

At the Plenary meeting in January, Jim had presented HESA statistics (Longitudinal DLHE) on the destination of graduates. The data was disappointing concerning languages and he had suggested that the figures did not capture graduates who were internationally mobile. This seems to have been the case as the survey had only a 15% response rate 42 months after graduation. It seems therefore reasonable to discount such information as invalid and unreliable

Jim noted that Michael Gove’s recommendation on language learning at primary level is an encouragement, although the Secretary of State has also recently proposed a return to O levels and CSE and that the National Curriculum is likely to be scrapped. It seems that Michael Gove wants to rely on the E Bacc and league tables (as an indicator of school performance) to drive change in schools. This might help languages. It also seems likely that a single exam board in England will be created.

Jim reported that UCML would be co-sponsoring with LLAS the fourth ‘Thriving’ event for Heads of Department in September. UCML would also be working with the HEA and AULC on a survey of non-specialist language learners, and would co-sponsor the conference on Study Abroad organised by Ros Mitchell at the University of Southampton.

There was some discussion on the format of future meetings and how to maximise attendance. It was suggested that early July might be a better time next year. It was also agreed that the room number and address of the venue be put on the agenda as well as the website. The advance posting of reports from the officers was welcomed

Jim and the Executive were congratulated on their efforts to negotiate successfully with BIS and HEFCE to secure a package of support for the Year Abroad.

4.  Honorary Secretary’s report

Lesley Twomey thanked those officers whose posts have come to an end. These were Teresa Mackinnon, Annie Morgan James. They will not be replaced on the Executive. . She reported that there had been calls for nominations in May/ June for representatives for the following constituencies: Middle Eastern studies, East Asian Studies, Translation and Interpreting , Italian Studies and Language Teaching. Daniel Newman, Jonathan Bunt, Raquel de Pedro, Daniela La Penna and Uwe Baumann were thanked for their work in these respective posts. The new post holders were welcomed: Gerda Wielander( East Asian studies), Rebecca Tipton (Translation and Interpreting) and Daniela LaPenna (Italian Studies). An election for the Language teaching post would be held: the 2 candidates were Elena Polesca or Sonia Cunico. UCML is still seeking nomination for a representative for Middle Eastern Studies. As Liz Andersen has resigned from the post of Vice-Chair, Lesley is working with the other two candidates nominated at the same time. It is not certain whether we will need to proceed to election for this post

5.  Treasurer’s report

Tony Shannon-Little had presented his apologies. Jim Coleman presented his report which is included in the appendix of these minutes.

6.  Report from the Vice Chair Research

Naomi Segal (Vice Chair, Research) presented a written report which is on the website. At the meeting, she gave an overview of the six meetings she had attended on behalf of UCML full details of which are given in the report.

There was considerable discussion of the Block Grants Partnership scheme (BGP2). In the course of the discussion, the following points were made.

·  Support for M level programmes is vulnerable unless it is leading to doctoral research

·  Because BGPs are awarded to a regional consortium, there is a risk that some regions may have no AHRC funding.

·  It would be useful to know the extent to which Modern Languages features in the BGPs as they tend to focus around a theme rather than a discipline. UCML members were encouraged to go back to their institutions to find out the progress of the development of BGPs.

·  It would be useful to discuss with the AHRC how discipline numbers are being monitored within the BGPs.

·  It was reported that the AHRC has been looking at training provision in languages for non-linguists and that the AHRC has asked to join the Higher Education Languages Group (HELG).

Jim Coleman agreed to raise the question of Modern Languages research at the next HELG meeting, to ask the AHRC to monitor Modern Languages as a research area and not just a skill set so that Modern Languages research is not devalued.

Action Jim Coleman

European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH): this is a European Science Foundation listing of journals led by panels of research-active academics. Naomi reported that the bandings of the journals was misunderstood and that this had led to concerns raised by editors of journals.

There was also considerable discussion about the publication of monographs and open access journal articles. In future, HEIs will seek grants from funding councils and research councils to publish monographs. An open access article published by Elsevier currently costs 3000 Euros. The Finch Report on open access publishing recommends the ‘gold’ (author’s institution pays) rather than the ‘green’ (repository 6 months after publication) approach. It was noted that this could have implications for publications in languages other than English as the number of articles published may have to be rationed by university departments.

It was noted that issues around publication of research are being discussed by the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU). It was also suggested that this would be a good topic for the next plenary meeting; representatives from Elsevier, the British Library, Oapen and the AHRC could be invited.

7.  Report from the Vice Chair Language and intercultural education

Jocelyn reported that she had set up languages education pages on the UCML website (www.ucml.ac.uk/languages-education). These included a summary of current issues in languages education in all sectors. Statistics are also available on the website. Jocelyn would welcome feedback on these pages and encouraged members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide links to useful sources of information.

Jocelyn encouraged UCML members to consider joining the Association for Language Learning (ALL). ALL represents language teachers not only in schools but universities as well. The association is dependent on membership subscriptions and therefore it would be helpful to encourage HE staff to become members. She reported that members can contribute to journals and be involved in debates relating to progression from schools to universities.

Jocelyn reminded members that UCML has a Facebook page which can be viewed even by those who do not have a Facebook account. News items appear on the page which is being updated regularly.

Jocelyn reported that has been representing UCML at various meetings including the Routes into Languages Advisory Group. She has also been attending the MFL consultative forum on the future of A levels convened by the examination board, OCR. Notes from the forum are on the website. The next meeting is in September. Jocelyn would welcome comments from UCML members to feed into the meeting.

8.  Update from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Wales

Claire Gorrara, Chair of UCML Wales, provided an update on issues in Welsh HEIs. She noted that numbers studying languages in schools were disappointing in some areas partly owing to the fact that Welsh is a compulsory subject. Ceri James of CILT Cymru has been encouraging the Welsh Assembly Government to engage with the Modern Languages strategy.

The figures for admissions to HEIs for modern languages have been encouraging though two institutions have expressed concerns about the numbers wishing to study German. Numbers have considerably declined in schools even though German has been identified as an important language for business.

Roger Carter from the Welsh funding council, HEFCW, has reported that Erasmus is being included in the funding plan but there is no protected status for Erasmus monies. No current definitive policy on the Year Abroad has been published in Wales though there is currently a fee waiver. Roger Carter has also emphasised the importance of skills and employability.

There have been positive initiatives in Wales including the Confucius centre in Cardiff and the growth of Chinese.

Claire expressed the hope that Colin Riordan, incoming Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cardiff, will be ambassadorial for language provision in Wales.

No representatives from Scotland and Northern Ireland were present to provide verbal reports though there are reports on the UCML website at www.ucml.ac.uk/events/22-06-12.html

9.  LLAS report

Liz Hudswell presented a report from LLAS including an update on Routes into Languages. She noted that the recent showcase event of Routes activity in London had been very successful and had demonstrated a wealth of highly motivational activities carried out across all regions. The Spelling Bee competitions for England and Wales would be taking place on 6 and 13 July respectively. A report on research into Public Sector Interpreting produced by Anne Marie Graham would be published in the autumn. It was looking likely that Routes into Languages would receive HEFCE funding for another year.

Liz reported on forthcoming conferences organised by LLAS. Language Futures, organised in partnership with UCML and AULC ,would be taking place in Edinburgh in early July; the annual ‘Thriving’ event for Heads of Department, also organised in partnership with UCML, would take place on 13 September in London; the annual e learning symposium would be in Southampton on 24-25 January 2013. LLAS would also be involved in a Residence Abroad conference led by Professor Ros Mitchell in April 2013. In addition to these conferences, there would be a programme of workshops and study days on language skills, internationalisation and assessment.

Liz reported that edition 7 of Liaison, funded by the Higher Education Academy, would be published shortly.

10.  Higher Education Academy

Dr Fil Nereo, Discipline Lead for Languages, presented a report on Academy activity in Languages. He pointed to a number of reports which were due to be published on themes such as using electronic corpora, internationalisation, enterprise, social networking, mobile learning. He asked members to make contact if they or their colleagues were developing a new module which could be showcased nationally. He also reported that the HEA was carrying out a review of Slavonic studies in partnership with BASEES. John Dunn was writing the report which would investigate issues of coordinating provision and sustainability. This report was being produced in partnership with the British Academy, HEFCE and Ramona Gonzcol of the UCML executive. Fil would welcome comments on any of the reports. It was suggested that a report on German would be interesting. It was also noted that German would be the focus of the next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group.

11.  Recruitment and collaboration

Jim Coleman launched the discussion by noting that, in areas of the country where there is a problem maintaining breadth of provision, we are being invited by HEFCE to consider what action could be taken. Normally provision is regulated by the markets. However, if there is concern that the national interest is not being served, the community is being encouraged to look at collaborative models. In 2001, UCML gained funding from HEFCE for the Collaboration Programme. Some of the initiatives funded by the Programme are still in operation. It is clear that we are in straitened times. There is concern about German provision especially ab initio; Italian and Brazilian Portuguese are other areas for possible collaborative provision. Collaboration could help with research giving sabbatical and maternity cover. Clearly, local competition and timetabling are issues, there are risks that staff might be lost and there might be a greater intensification in the elite universities. Jim raised the question as to whether UCML should explore collaborative provision further. In the ensuing discussion, the following points were made.