Closing and opening doors: Universities restructuring their language training programs

AIM:

In this research project, we are interested in recent or planned closures of university language training or research programs or severe downsizing and cuts of their resources. We are also investigating the opposite process: new openings, the start of new language training programs and allocation of additional resources for language training and research.

FOCUS:

The closures and openings we are interested in include academic degree programs (BA, MA, minors, majors, PhD) in languages or linguistics, literatures and cultural studies, translation or interpreting studies, and language teaching offered in university language centers. We are interested in structural changes that have affected any language. Our project is limited to European universities, including institutions in non-EU countries.

TIME FRAME:

The study is limited to the changes that have taken place from the year 2000 onwards. You may also report on planned changes in the future.

RESPONDENTS:

The research project covers the whole of Europe, and we are seeking responses to the questionnaire from all members of the university community (from doctoral researchers to professors) in different European universities who have worked at language training and research units whose resources have undergone significant changes in the 2000s or are likely to change in the near future.

Respondents do not need to be personally influenced by the changes but should have first-hand knowledge of the processes.

You may provide this information although you have not been in a position to decide on the cuts or additions.

GUIDELINES FOR THE SURVEY:

The questionnaire is in English. In the open fields, we appreciate answers in English, but you can also reply in any European language. We will handle any translations necessary for our data.

THE FORM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS:

a) Background and personal information

b) Closures: Discontinuation of, reduction in, and replacement of programs

c) Closures: Significant staff reductions WITHOUT the discontinuation of and reduction in programs

d) Openings: Additions to programs

e) Openings: Significant staff additions WITHOUT the introduction of new programs

NB. If you inform us about (b) a closure or (d) an opening of a program, you do not have to separately inform us about (c) staff cuts or (e) staff addtions related to these programs.

RESEARCH ETHICS:

By answering the survey, you consent to your answers being used for research purposes. The survey is anonymous: respondents cannot be identified and it is not possible for us to link responses to respondents.

However, at the end of the form, you may voluntarily provide your contact details for any further information or if you are available for an in-depth interview following the data collection through this questionnaire.

The data you provide will be additionally anonymized for any information given in the questionnaire which would implicitly identify you, e.g. in contexts of small disciplines or departments. When reporting on the results, we will anonymize the data so that responses cannot be linked to any individuals.

For the processing and storage of the data please see the attached Privacy Notice (link below).

WE THANK YOU CORDIALLY FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY!

The questionnaire is open until the end of February 2025.

CONTACT:

The research is carried out by Prof. Leena Kolehmainen (University of Helsinki), Prof. Philipp Krämer (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) and Prof. Ulrike Vogl (Ghent University).

We are happy to provide further information on the study.

E-MAILS:

leena.kolehmainen@helsinki.fi, philipp.kramer@vub.be & Ulrike.Vogl@UGent.be

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE PRIVACY NOTICE FOR THIS STUDY:

Privacy Notice

Background and personal information

If you are not active in academia any longer, please fill in the information regarding your most recent activity at a university.

What is the name of your university?

In which country is your university located?

With which department are you affiliated?

What is your current role within the department?

Which academic discipline do you work in?

How long have you held your current role at this university?

Closures

I want to report on:

discontinuation of and reductions in programs	Yes No

CLOSURES: Discontinuation of and reductions in programs

In this part of the survey, you may provide information on past or future closures in university language training programs.

You may provide information on your current institution or institutions you are personally familiar with.

You may provide information for up to two universities. For more cases, please open and fill in the e-form again.

By programs we mean academic degree programs in languages or linguistics, literatures and cultural studies, translation or interpreting studies, and language teaching offered in university language centers.

Which language programs have been or are planned to be discontinued, reduced or replaced and where, when, how, and why?

Name of the university

Country of the university

Languages that were / are planned to be discontinued or replaced

Type of degree

Bachelor

Bachelor (minor)

Master

Master (minor)

Language course without degree

Other (please specify in comment below)

Was the language training completely discontinued, reduced or replaced? / Is the language training going to be completely discontinued, reduced or replaced?

Discontinued

Reduced

Replaced

Other (please specify in comment below)

Here you can specify the degree / language program (to be) discontinued, reduced or replaced. You can also provide information on staff reductions due to the change. (Staff reductions WITHOUT program closures can be reported in a separate section below.)

When was this announced?

From which year onwards did / will the discontinuation, reduction or replacement take effect?

Explain replacements / reductions / the time frame, if necessary.

Was the reduction of the program(s) primarily motivated by:

Financial constraints

Decline in student enrollment

Lack of faculty or administrative support

Changes in university policy

External factors (e.g., government regulations, funding cuts)

Other (please specify in comment below)

I do not know

Please tell us more about the MOTIVATIONS and REASONS given by the university or department for the reduction of the program/s or language/s. Who / which party took the initiative for the reduction of the program/s or language/s? ?

Please describe the shutdown PROCESS of the program or language offer. Which decisions were taken on which level? How was the process communicated to students and staff? Which phase-out or transitional arrangements were / will be made?

What are the CONSEQUENCES of the reduction of the program or language offer? How does it affect the academic landscape in the city/country/region?

More closures?

Do you want to report on another university / case?	Yes No

Staff reductions

I want to report on:

staff reductions	Yes No

CLOSURES: Significant staff reductions

This part of the survey relates to reduction of resources for language training and research WITHOUT discontinuation, reduction or replacement of programs. We ask you to indicate positions that used to be integrated in the department / university budget structure (no scholarships / no external funding).

Name of the university

Country of the university

Which languages did / will the reduction concern?

Type of position:

Professor position

Postdoctoral position

Postgraduate / PhD position

Lecturer position (language instruction and/or academic work)

Other (please specify in comment below)

When was / will the position (be) no longer occupied?

Here you can specify the type of position, if needed. Was / will more positions (be) cut for a given language and/or category, was / will different types of positions (be) cut at the same time or was / will a position (be) replaced by another type?

Was the reduction of the position(s) primarily motivated by:

Financial constraints

Decline in student enrollment

Lack of faculty or administrative support

Changes in university policy

External factors (e.g., government regulations, funding cuts)

Other (please specify in comment below)

I do not know

Please tell us more about the MOTIVATIONS and REASONS given by the university or department for the reduction of the position/s. Who / which party took the initiative for the reduction of the position/s? ?

Please describe the staff reduction PROCESS. How were the positions reduced (position discontinued after pension, redundancy/termination …)? Or how are they planned to be reduced? Which decisions were / are to be taken on which level?

PROCESS: How was the process communicated to the persons concerned, to students and other staff? Which phase-out or transitional arrengements were / will be made?

What are the CONSEQUENCES of the reduction of the position(s)? How does it affect the academic landscape in the city/country/region?

More staff reductions?

Do you want to report on another university / case?	Yes No

Additions to programs

I want to report on:

additions in programs	Yes No

OPENINGS: Additions to programs

In this part, you may provide information on new openings: the start of new language training programs.

Which new language programs have been / are going to be introduced, where, when, and how?

Name of the university

Country of the university

Which languages were / will be added?

Type of degree

Bachelor

Bachelor (minor)

Master

Master (minor)

Language course without degree

Other (please specify in comment below)

Type of addition?

New program

Addition of a language to an existing program

Here you can specify the degree / language program (to be) introduced:

From which year onwards was / will enrolment for the program or course (be) possible?

Was the addition of the program(s) primarily motivated by:

Academic demand

Market demand

Funding opportunities

Faculty or department initiative

Other (please specify below)

I do not know

Please tell us more about the MOTIVATIONS and REASONS given by the university or department for the addition of the program/s. Who / which party took the initiative for the addition of the program/s? ?

Please tell us how the addition of the program/s or language/s affected / will affect the university’s or department’s BUDGET. (Cuts elsewhere, additional funding acquired …)

What are the CONSEQUENCES of the addition of the languages / degrees / courses? How does it affect the academic landscape in the city/country/region?

More?

Do you want to report on another university / case?	Yes No

Additions in staff

I want to report on:

additions in staff	Yes No

OPENINGS: Significant staff additions

Here we ask you to indicate new positions that were added or will be integrated in the department / university budget structure WITHOUT the addition of programs (no scholarships / external funding).

Which new positions for languages have been / are going to be added, where, when, and how?

Name of the university

Country of the university

Which languages did / will the addition concern?

Type of position:

Professor position

Postdoctoral position

Postgraduate / PhD position

Lecturer position (language instruction and/or academic work)

Other (please specify in comment below)

When was / will the position (be) filled?

The position was / will be filled as a

permanent or tenure track position

fixed-term position

Here you can specify the type of position, if needed. Please also indicate if more than one position was / will be created for a given language and/or category or if different types of positions were / will be created at the same time etc.

Was the addition of the position(s) primarily motivated by:

Academic demand

Market demand

Funding opportunities

Faculty or department initiative

Other (please specify below)

I do not know

Please tell us more about the MOTIVATIONS and REASONS given by the university or department for the addition of the position/s. Who / which party took the initiative for the addition of the position/s? ?

Please tell us how the addition of the position(s) affected / will affect the university’s or department’s BUDGET. (Cuts elsewhere, additional funding acquired …)

What are the CONSEQUENCES of the addition of the position(s)? How does it affect the academic landscape in the city/country/region?

More?

Do you want to report on another university / case?	Yes No

Additional information, comments, feedback, voluntary contact information

Here you can give us ADDITIONAL INFORMATION or FEEDBACK or leave your CONTACT information if you are available for providing us with further information or an interview. (All reporting will take place ANONYMOUSLY.)

Closing and opening doors: Universities restructuring their language training programs

Background and personal information

Closures

CLOSURES: Discontinuation of and reductions in programs

CLOSURES: Discontinuation of and reductions in programs: additional cases

Staff reductions

CLOSURES: Significant staff reductions

CLOSURES: Significant staff reductions: additional cases

Additions to programs

OPENINGS: Additions to programs

OPENINGS: Additions to programs: additional cases

Additions in staff

OPENINGS: Significant staff additions

OPENINGS: Significant staff additions: additional cases

Additional information, comments, feedback, voluntary contact information

Proceed