Staff ‘demoralised’ over Northumbria University course cuts

The closure of two undergraduate courses at a university is “demoralising” to staff, a union has said.

Northumbria University said it had proposed cutting two joint degrees from next September – business with Spanish, and business with French.

University and College Union (UCU) official Jon Bryan said the move flew in the face of “commitments” made by the university’s head a few weeks ago about “no planned programme closures”.

The university said students would be able to keep studying foreign languages as part of their degrees as part of its wider programme.

It said the decision to stop providing the two “very small undergraduate programmes” was not connected to its wider academic plans.

About 18 students enrolled in the two courses in September.

“It is vital that we continually review our programmes…in order that we are able to deliver for our students,” a spokesperson said.

Students currently on the courses would be the last cohort to study those degrees at the university, UCU said.

Mr Bryan said the decision to cut the courses raised “serious questions” about whether it could it could “rely on statements made by management”.

It is understood no jobs have been lost as a result of the move.

“We are now concerned about what may come down the road,” he said.