University cuts target language teaching staff

A decision to cut casual staff at the University of Nottingham's Language Centre will diminish its status as a "global university", critics have said.

Frédérique Poujades, 54, who has worked for the university since 2019, said it had left her having to "rethink everything".

Those affected deliver evening language classes to students and the general public, as well as offer language studying options to existing undergraduate students.

A spokesperson for the university said it had been dealing with "significant financial challenges" and that the classes did not generate a "financial surplus".

Ms Poujades said as a casual member of staff, the university did not need to consult or provide a notice period.

"There was no letter, nothing, just an e-mail from [a senior member of staff] so it came as quite a shock to everybody," she said.

The French teacher had already struggled with money, and during a gap in work at the university last summer she said she had to go on universal credit.

"I do not want to give up teaching, but this has left me with quite a few question marks," she said.

"It's left me having to go to the job centre very soon I think."

Santosh Ghosh, 58, has been teaching modern languages for 33 years and started working at the university in early 2024.

He said the move had been a "kick in the teeth".

"I am registered visually disabled, which means that rightly or wrongly it has always been a lot more challenging for me to secure employment," he said.

"The university however had faith in me, they took me on... [this move] would be a very difficult and a very bitter pill to swallow."

Mr Ghosh also said the UK had a "shocking reputation" when it came to modern languages, and that the closure of language classes would "constitute a missed opportunity" to promote cultural understanding.

Hundreds of people have signed an open letter against the closure of evening language classes at the University of Nottingham.

Michaela Collard, from the University and College Union, said the courses had been "really popular" with the community.

She said cuts to the British Sign Language (BSL) teaching in particular was a "national issue" because of the limited opportunities to learn BSL elsewhere.

She added that staff now felt "disposable", even after years of working for the university.

In a statement, the University of Nottingham said it had to make "tough choices to safeguard the financial future of our institution".

"We understand the disappointment that this will cause," it said.

The university said it needed to focus spending on "providing a high-quality experience for our undergraduate and postgraduate students".

"We are really proud of the role that our Language Centre has played in supporting language learning in our local communities," it added.

"We will revisit this once the university is in a more stable financial situation."

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