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MODERN LANGUAGES POLICY in the UK (i) The Devolved Administrations (ii) PhDs and Postdocs

MODERN LANGUAGES POLICY in the UK (i) The Devolved Administrations (ii) PhDs and Postdocs Janice Carruthers. Policy in the Devolved Administrations Questions…. How do Modern Linguists currently speak to government? What are the most effective channels?

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MODERN LANGUAGES POLICY in the UK (i) The Devolved Administrations (ii) PhDs and Postdocs

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  1. MODERN LANGUAGES POLICY in the UK (i) The Devolved Administrations (ii) PhDs and Postdocs Janice Carruthers

  2. Policy in the Devolved AdministrationsQuestions… How do Modern Linguists currently speak to government? What are the most effective channels? Which are government and policy-makers priorities for languages? How can the Modern Languages community help?

  3. Context • Challenging issues across the 4 jurisdictions are similar and familiar: global English, rise of STEM, perceived difficulty of ML, severe grading • Policy context different (most departments including Education devolved) • Government departments and civil servants more accessible. Cross departmental work more feasible. • Clear language policy in Scotland (1+2) and Wales (bilingual +1) • Language context distinctive: Welsh, Gaelic, Irish

  4. Context cont. • Education and assessment systems increasingly divergent Scottish: longstanding distinction from other 3 Wales and NI GCSE retaining grading A*-G Wales and NI retaining non-linear A levels End to 3-country regulation has had impact on specs Changing pattern of uptake in exam boards Different university fee structures

  5. Positive policy developments in Scotland and Wales: what can we learn? • ‘Joined up’ across primary, secondary, universities, local authorities, government departments. Collaboration in strategy and implementation. • Specific responsibilities with senior civil servants. • ‘Joined up’ thinking on foreign, community and indigenous languages (different responses in Scotland and Wales). Though challenging issues… • Bespoke initiatives that work in local context. E.g. mentoring in Wales (including digi version), business brunches in Scotland

  6. Priorities and current developments • National Languages Strategy proposals (high level, compatible with devolved strategies). • AHRC, ASCL, BA, British Council, UUK: round tables and recommendations: primary, secondary, skills, university (x2). • University round tables chaired by UUK and AHRC. Questions around models for sustainability; articulating the value of ML research; advocacy with government and university senior management. • Policy Briefings jointly published by MEITS and Leadership Fellow .

  7. Priorities and current developments • Chief Government Linguist (Wendy’s presentation). Keeping languages on Westminster agenda. E.g. Languages and the Future of the UK event; AHRC round table in Westminster on UK Business and Chinese. • Need for clear messages to government: sector speaking with one voice. • Need for clear messages from central government to public, schools, universities, policy makers on value of languages. • Ofqual (HE involvement in discussions on severe grading of ML). Discussion now moving to GCSE. But Ofqual does not regulate devolved boards. • Importance of ‘bottom-up’ as well as ‘top-down’. Sector now working in more focused way in terms of policy. But policy alone is not enough….

  8. PhDs and Postdocs: AHRC context • New UKRI-AHRC Strategic Delivery Plan Spring 2019 (Consultation summer 2018) • AHRC consultation on Languages summer 2018 • Comprehensive Spending Review 2019 • Doctoral Funding: 10 new consortia first intake 2019. All matching funding.

  9. Doctoral Awards Other subjects 2017/18 start = 59% of 2011/12 start Modern Languages 2017/18 start = 40% of 2011/12 start

  10. Doctoral Awards in Modern Languages

  11. AHRC DTPs & Modern Languages • Recommendations issued by Leadership Fellow in September 2017 to Directors and ML colleagues • Process (e.g. selection of candidates; representation of ML on key selection panels; preparation and assessment of EU candidates; languages reps acting across languages…) • New bids (improvement of position of languages?)

  12. Postdoctoral awards • AHRC grants: responsive and thematic modes. • Thematic includes OWRI. 34 (+/-) postdocs with bespoke training programme on working with partners, grant applications, careers. Sense of cohort. Early indications excellent on recruitment to posts. • British Academy (3 years FEC) • Leverhulme (requires matching institutional funding, not FEC) • Marie Curie Actions (will end with Brexit)

  13. Success Rates: Responsive and Thematic

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