UCFL - University Council For Languages
@ucflangs.bsky.social
The University Council For Languages: the national voice of research & teaching in languages, cultures, societies, and related disciplines in UK HE.
Have a languages project in mind? Apply for a UCFL Small Grant! 📢 Deadline 17 July 2026 university-council-for-languages.org/our-research...
Small Grants | University Council For Languages
UCFL has made available small-scale grant funding to facilitate projects that support the languages mission and values of the organisation.
university-council-for-languages.org
Are you coming tomorrow? After the AGM at 10-12 am, exciting panel discussions follow in the afternoon. Book now: ilcs.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Colleagues at the University of Exeter need your support! ✍️ Sign the petition: c.org/yKcx6Zr29H The University of Exeter is to cut about 150 staff. The proposed reduction is almost exclusively focused on roles in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, among them Modern Languages and English.
This campaign needs you now
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
c.org
🫂 An excellent opportunity to come together. Exciting Plenary Panels in the afternoon. ✍ In-person registration colses in two days on 17th June! ilcs.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
❗ Don't miss this job opportunity! We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to work on Building Policy-Research Bridges in Languages. More information here: university-council-for-languages.org/2026/06/job-...
📖 Read the interview with Dr Robert Ley, MHRA Languages and Policy Postdoctoral Researcher and his mentors Professor Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Professor Charles Forsdick, on how the Languages in Policy project is helping to connect language researchers and policymakers www.mhra.org.uk/news/2026/05...
Policy and Belonging
Interviewing Dr Rob Ley, MHRA Languages and Policy Postdoctoral Researcher, and his Cambridge-based mentors Professor Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Professor Charles Forsdick.
mhra.org.uk
Languages are not in decline - access is. Our colleagues Marcela Andrea Cazzoli and Ana Medeiros show that the problem is not student aspriation, but structured access. Don't miss this very important read: wonkhe.com/blogs/modern...
Modern languages has a future – and it’s all about access
Contraction of modern languages provision is often painted as a response to falling demand. For Ana de Medeiros and Marcela Cazzoli, if you look across the whole education system then HE starts to loo...
wonkhe.com
📢 UCFL is seeking to appoint a new East Asian Studies Representative and a new Germanic and Low Countries Representative. ❗ Deadline: 14 June 2026 🔗 Links to the posts in the comments.
🔎The ELL programme at the University of Hertfordshire is under review. 🫂Linguistics plays a critical role across humanities and social sciences contributing to areas such as education, communication, social justice and interdisciplinary research. ✍️Sign the petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
💪 It is reassuring that the APPG on Modern Languages on their Monday meeting discussed in detail the crisis in teacher recruitment in Modern Languages and Physics. 💷The UK heavily relies on overseas trainee teachers. ⛔ Post-Brexit visa rules mean schools cannot employ overseas teachers.
The Cardiff University-led modern foreign languages mentoring programme is achieving excellent results in boosting language uptake. Could it be adopted more widely? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
GCSE languages sees rise in Wales after new approach
After a long decline, the number of pupils taking language GCSEs in Wales rises for two years.
bbc.co.uk
Languages are falling into a vicious cycle that will be difficult to break. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-job-...
UK job cuts hit English and modern languages staff hardest
‘Vicious cycle’ of course closures means system ‘gradually losing breadth and depth of expertise’
timeshighereducation.com
Sir Albert Sloman envisioned languages at the heart of the University of Essex. ❗ Now, his legacy is in danger. Sign the petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Short-term savings, long-term national loss? When university “financial sustainability and future success” harms UK economic growth and diplomacy. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University of Leicester to cut film and modern languages courses
A union claims up to 300 students will see offers withdrawn as a result of the decision.
bbc.co.uk
Did you know that the University of Essex had a waiting list for their British Sign Language course? ❗ It is in danger now! ✍ Sign their petition to urge the Executive Committee to reconsider the large-scale restructuring proposal: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
The University of Essex has proposed to discontinue most of their undergraduate language provisions as well as the Languages for All programme as part of large-scale restructuring. Sign their petition to urge the Executive Committee to reconsider the proposal: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Vice Chancellor at the University of Birmingham Adam Tickell warns about a "national catastrophe" unfolding as universities close modern languages courses. Institutional mergeers may protect our "national cultural assets". Read the article here: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Closure of language courses is ‘national catastrophe’, warns VC - Research Professional News
Birmingham leader Adam Tickell says “institutional mergers” may be needed to protect “national cultural assets”
researchprofessionalnews.com
Step up, get involved, make a difference! Election of UCFL Membership Secretary – Spring 2026 More information here: university-council-for-languages.org/2026/03/elec...
The UCFL Small Grants call is out. ❗ Deadline: 20 Febrary 2026 ❗ More information here: university-council-for-languages.org/our-research...
Small Grants | University Council For Languages
UCFL has made available small-scale grant funding to facilitate projects that support the languages mission and values of the organisation.
university-council-for-languages.org
And another petition, sadly 😪 You might be aware that the Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies (LINCS) at Heriot-Watt University is under threat. More information and to sign the petition: heriotwatt.web.ucu.org.uk/2026/02/05/s...
Save LINCS petition
To Principal Richard Williams, the University Executive and Court The Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies (LINCS) at Heriot-Watt University is under threat to lose a third of its staff, f...
heriotwatt.web.ucu.org.uk
YOU SIGNATURE MATTERS! Help us save Modern Languages at Leicester. Sign the petition: www.change.org/p/save-moder...
You can still join the REF 2029 Town Hall event on Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) tomorrow, Wednesday, 4 February, 11 am to 12 pm 2029.ref.ac.uk/about/how-to...
How to get involved – REF 2029
2029.ref.ac.uk
The UCFL Small Grants call is out. ❗ Deadline: 20 Febrary 2026 ❗ More information here: university-council-for-languages.org/our-research...
Small Grants | University Council For Languages
UCFL has made available small-scale grant funding to facilitate projects that support the languages mission and values of the organisation.
university-council-for-languages.org