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

2. Policy in the Devolved Administrations Questions…
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 All matching funding.

9. Doctoral Awards Year of Start Other Subjects Modern Languages
Grand Total
2011/12
1253
121
1374
2012/13
1079
109
1188
2013/14
1024 87
1111
2014/15
835 59
894
2015/16
801 67
868
2016/17
700 45
745
2017/18
720 48
768
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
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
GRAND TOTAL
Asiatic & Oriental Studies 3 6 12 2 4 1 29
Celtic Studies 11 8 7 5 45
French Studies 25 32 19 15
129
German including Dutch & Yiddish 18 13 9 75
Hispanic, Portuguese & Latin 16 14 62
Interpreting & Translation 21 10 74
Italian Studies 57
Middle East & African Studies
Russian, Slavonic & Eastern European 44
Scandinavian Studies

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