The University of Edinburgh’s plans to change its Literature, Languages and Culture (LLC) programmes have been engulfed in confusion, with students and academics questioning what the changes mean for the future of Scottish Literature and other disciplines.
The university has announced changes to 90 degree programmes, including 48 within the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. While management has presented these as a restructuring of the curriculum, some students and academics say poor communication has left them believing entire subjects are being abandoned.
Speaking to The Student, Head of School Alex Thomson described the changes as a “tidying up” intended to offer “greater flexibility of programmes.”
Thomson also highlighted the university’s continued “championing of the success and dignity of Scottish heritage,” including through the School of Scottish Studies Archive.
However, the university’s explanation has struggled to cut through.
Thomson described the media response to the announcement as “disappointing and confusing,” following The Herald’s reporting that 90 degrees were being axed, with particular attention focused on Scottish Literature and other Scottish programmes. He argued there was a “trend in the sector to reduce the number of degrees.”
“We haven’t tidied up at all,” he stated, adding that “the staff have been reluctant.”
There is, however, a clear financial rationale behind the changes.
Thomson described the University as “moving to a more sustainable model,” explaining that “the growth of income is declining while costs are growing faster.” This, he said, had resulted in “difficult decisions,” including “phasing out courses” and creating “larger cohorts.”
Yet within the University there is recognition that students were not adequately informed.
Thomson acknowledged that “students had not been given context to understand any of the changes.”
One LLC lecturer told The Student that “the university’s communication around this issue has been very, very poor, and has created a sense that we’re stopping teaching particular languages and disciplines.”
Another senior academic was scathing: “whoever handled the publicity for this is the one who deserves to lose their job.” They added: “Edinburgh University management obviously doesn’t care about anyone except themselves.”
The consequences have been felt particularly sharply by students.
The University of Edinburgh Scottish Society told The Student that members had contacted the society expressing “concern, confusion and frustration” over the changes.
For some, the announcement has raised questions about the future of their degrees. One student was left deeply concerned after learning about the programme changes during a lecture, casting doubt on their academic career.
The society stated that “these cuts are indicative of the dismissive attitude towards Scotland and its culture from senior leadership. It is no surprise that a department that is comprised of mostly Scottish students is a prime target for these cuts.”
“As a leading university, Edinburgh has set an example to the academic world that the humanities should be placed on the chopping block to meet budget cuts,” Scottish Society president Aidan Grant said. “It’s very disappointing.”
But the picture becomes more complicated when looking beyond the headline programme changes.
One senior academic within the LLC shared with The Student a table explaining the rationale behind cuts to specific Scottish Literature and Cultural Studies programmes.
He argued that “closing these programmes does not save any money” and that the changes are “unnecessary,” but fundamentally “not a disaster for Scottish Literary Studies” given the small numbers of enrolment.
“By far the biggest threat to Scottish literary studies at Edinburgh right now are the journalists and bloggers and shitposters getting clicks by saying Scottish Literature is being closed down at Edinburgh.”
According to the academic, “Edinburgh is now teaching more Scottish literature to more students than ever before.” While the number of degree programmes with “Scottish Literature” in the title is being reduced to one, Scottish Literature courses will continue to run.
New Honours core courses dedicated to Scottish literature have also been introduced as compulsory courses for students studying English and Scottish Literature.
The result is a striking disconnect between the University’s stated intentions and how the changes have been understood by those affected. For students receiving emails about changes to their courses with little warning or explanation, the distinction between restructuring and closure has not necessarily been clear.
The Edinburgh University Student Association’s Sabbatical Team similarly stated that “major decisions around the future of the University should never exclude the student voice.”
“We are frustrated by the lack of consistent and compassionate communication provided by the University College to impacted students and staff about this decision.”
The LLC website has described the changes as “our most adventurous reimagination of our curriculum.” Outside the University, the cuts have been described as “a massive evisceration of cultural knowledge and learning” by Bella Caledonia and “academic vandalism” by University and College Union General Secretary Jo Grady.
As the University and College Union prepares for an unprecedented five weeks of strike action, the fallout from Edinburgh’s programme cuts has further exposed the widening gap between senior management, staff and students.
As one LLC academic put it, the schism has revealed an intellectual community “being so badly led, so badly mismanaged, so badly undermined by the people charged with the serious responsibility of looking after it.”
*Mid-text table courtesy of the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Image by Ulia Makoveeva for The Student
