Outgoing Chair’s report to UCML plenary, 17 January 2014

My chair’s report to the Executive Committee on 11 October detailed activities undertaken since the UCML plenary of 5 July 2013. See

Since then I have attended the HEFCE Annual Meeting (8 November), and attended (without cost, as a guest of the Institut Français) the joint UUK International Unit –DAAD – Institut Français event European University Cooperation in the Era of Globalisation (19 November). By asking a question during the first session which was picked up by both Lord Hannay and Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, I was able to launch a discussion of the importance of languages across university disciplines

I attended, with Jocelyn Wyburd, the annual meeting and General Assembly of the European Language Council(28-29 November). This was a key meeting, seeing the first change of leadership in 18 years. The ELC has spawned a number of impressive EU-funded projects, notably Dylan ( IntlUni (intluni.eu), but hitherto its considerable influence in Brussels has been inverse to its very limited active membership. Jocelyn will monitor its potential to become a genuinely representative Europe-wide association.

Other Executive members will report on preparations and actions concerning surveys of non-specialist and specialist language learning, and the 2014 conference.

I have helped to take forward three potential bids to HEFCE’s Catalyst Fund, to address (supply-side) issues of choice of provision, and to complement Routes into Languages (demand-side) actions. Despite concerted action by UCML and many other organisations, language study in the UK remains in a perilous state, with fewer language degrees on offer at fewer universities, and taken up by fewer students than at any time in the past 30 years. Jocelyn and I discussed the Catalyst Fund and a range of other issues with Chris Millward and Linda Allebon of HEFCE on 19 December.

At the invitation of its Chair, Baroness Coussins, I addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages (4 December). My response to the question ‘Are Modern Languages degrees on the road to extinction?’ is available on the UCML website. My co-presenter, Nicole Dandridge, CEO of Universities UK, noted that she had been aware of issues around languages since her appointment in 2009, but that over recent months it had become a key concern for the whole sector.

UCML has played a role in ensuring that all stakeholders and decision-makers are aware of the continuing threat to the UK’s economic, diplomatic and security interests arising from too few graduates with language skills. I have every confidence that my successor will continue to achieve the best possible outcomes for languages in a very challenging climate.

Statistics and datasets:

  • I produced a summary re languages from the UCAS end of cycle 2013 report (see below).
  • HEFCE is analysing HESA data in advance of its funding letter and concerns for Modern Languages are likely to continue to headline. They also note that ABB was not good for languages, so removal of cap 2015-16 could be helpful.
  • We await the AULC-UCML survey which is due to report at the AULC AGM in Dublin in January. HEFCE have expressed continued interest in the anticipated positive results of this.
  • Outward mobility: higher numbers than ever (See Carbonell report available on UCML website under Languages Education/Higher Education), but still 15:1 imbalance; BIS is seeking insight on likely costs to UK of Erasmus+ and higher take-up with campaign from International Unit. HEFCE does not anticipate any threat to continuing financial support for year abroad.
  • Granular datasets: HEFCE and HESA are producing more detailed data on student numbers by mid-February, including open interactive online tableaux (maps) showing degree subjects, including at sub-degree level, JACS codes and cost centres. This is supported by the SIVS advisory group, notably for languages and engineering.

Where there are successes, they cannot always be publicised. One UK university was considering reducing substantially the number of Combined Honours programmes on offer. UCML, at the invitation of languages colleagues, was among those who contacted the university leadership to stress the importance of languages across the curriculum, and that viability of language programmes in many UK universities depends on drawing relatively small numbers of students from each of a wide range of programmes. That university has now withdrawn its proposals.

Emeritus Professor Jim Coleman

December 2013

UCAS Acceptances (end of cycle report 2013)

JACS3 Subject Group R European languages, literature and related subjects, by educational establishment (Table 21)

Educational establishment / number / percentage
Independent / 947 / 28.3
Academy / 839 / 25.1
State / 674 / 20.2
Sixth form college / 444 / 13.3
Grammar / 184 / 5.5
Other / 145 / 4.3
Further education / 109 / 3.3
Total / 3342 / 100

JACS3 Subject Group T Non- European languages, literature and related subjects, by educational establishment (Table 21)

Educational establishment / number / percentage
Independent / 204 / 22.1
Academy / 247 / 26.8
State / 174 / 18.9
Sixth form college / 163 / 17.7
Grammar / 22 / 2.4
Other / 60 / 6.5
Further education / 53 / 5.7
Total / 923 / 100

Data are only for UK domiciled, aged 19 and under.

Within European languages, numbers have fallen from 4118 in 2011 and 3433 in 2012, i.e. by 16.6% and 2.7% respectively. As overall numbers fall, the proportion coming from independent schools rises, from 25.6% in 2011, to 27.6% in 2012 and 28.3% in 2013.

Definitions of JACS3 codes at

Jim Coleman, 2013-12-19