Strikes over Modern Languages redundancies at Aberdeen University called off
Industrial action has been called off after the university lifted compulsory redundancies facing Modern Languages staff.
Last updated 7th Mar 2024
Strikes at the University of Aberdeen have been called off after compulsory redundancies facing Modern Languages staff was lifted.
It follows a fierce campaign from lecturers and staff who gained the attention of politicians and EU consulates after cuts to the department were announced last year.
The university blamed a "long-term and accelerating decline" in enrolments and a financial loss of £1.5 million each year.
It was later announced the university would no longer offer single-honours degrees in languages from September 2024 - meaning students will no longer be able to study Gaelic, French, German or Spanish as a stand alone degree.
The University and College Union (UCU) announced a series of strike dates due to start on 12 March over 30 members of staff facing redundancy.
Today, the university announced all compulsory redundancies have been taken off the table after agreeing on proposals to grow income and reform the curriculum within the department.
UCU confirmed the planned strikes have been called off.
Professor Karl Leydecker, Senior Vice-Principal of the University of Aberdeen, said: “We were able to take this step after receiving a strong set of proposals from staff in Modern Languages to grow income and reform the curriculum.
"Together with clear signs of progress towards cost savings, we see a sound basis for future academic and financial sustainability, which we will continue to monitor for effectiveness.
“We would like to give our thanks to our many colleagues who worked so hard to formulate these comprehensive proposals, with actions already underway to ensure that the plans are implemented at pace.
“This includes continuing to offer a full range of undergraduate Joint Honours degrees in Modern Languages, Translating & Interpreting, including Gaelic, together with taught and research postgraduate programmes, and continued support for research.
“New interdisciplinary undergraduate degrees are also planned that will incorporate languages and be an exciting and competitive offering for our future prospective students.”
Strikes called off
Aberdeen university UCU branch chair, Dr Rachel Shanks, said: “I want to thank every single member of our UCU branch who voted for strike action and who stood firm against the university’s threat to force colleagues out of the university.
"It’s good that, in the end, university senior managers listened to staff, students and the wider community, and have withdrawn the threat of compulsory redundancies.
"Hopefully university staff can now focus on teaching and supporting students, carrying out research and knowledge exchange and all the other activities that our members do.”
Professor Leydecker continued: “We know that the ongoing uncertainty has been extremely difficult for staff affected, as well as for our wider community.
"The conclusion of the Modern Languages consultation and the removal of the risk of redundancy and the end of this dispute with UCU, provides an opportunity to move forward positively as a Modern Languages community of staff and students.”