Leading authors, broadcasters, academics and theologians have actually tossed their weight behind a campaign to save 150 jobs at the University of Exeter, amidst growing outrage at a sector-wide hollowing out of the humanities.In excess of 21,000 people– and counting– have signed a petition railing versus the proposed redundancies at Exeter, which are anticipated to disproportionately fall on the humanities, arts and social sciences for which the highly ranked Russell Group university is famed.According to the University and College Union (UCU), courses including history, English, modern languages and politics will suffer”irreparable damage”and proposed cuts on the university’s Falmouth campus will also put environmental sciences at risk.Multiple universities throughout the nation are making severe cuts due to monetary difficulties, including Goldsmiths, Nottingham and Sussex, but the UCU says there is no monetary requirement to force through cuts of this scale at Exeter, where the yearly report for 2024-25 describes “a year of continued financial stability “. A meeting on Wednesday of almost 700 Exeter UCU members voted unanimously in favour of a tally for industrial action. The state of mind was described as “febrile and mutinous”but also”positive and enthusiastic”. Popular names who have publicly revealed their issue include the former Tory MP and host of The Rest is Politics podcast Rory Stewart
, the movie critic Mark Kermode, the literary biographer Hermione Lee and the former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.Williams, who got his first honorary degree from Exeter 25 years ago, informed the Guardian:”Everyone understands that the funding of college in this country leaves university management with deeply unpalatable choices. However it is really fretting that arts and liberal arts, including spiritual studies, seem so typically to be immediately recognized as the first and softest targets.”Is the sector actually dedicated to sustaining anything like a full humanistic and cultural education? Because this is not a luxury in a climate of polarised and historically myopic conflict.
“Former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said humanities, including spiritual research studies, are typically’recognized as the first and softest targets ‘. Photo: Tim Ireland/PA Magnate in the south-west have warned of the economic effect of cuts on Exeter and the broader area.”Less students, and a reduced offer, implies genuine effects for the trade all of us depend upon,”they wrote in an open letter.Kermode, who is an honorary teacher at Exeter University and lives in the south-west, published on Instagram: “The innovative arts are so essential in the south-west. These cuts are really ill thought out and they threaten the really things that make me proud
of Exeter. Please reconsider. This is an awful error.”The general public historian, author and creator of the You’re Dead to Me podcast Greg Jenner alerted on Bluesky:”The crisis in UK college is aggravating week by week– Exeter University is among the very best in the UK … however it’s preparing massive job cuts in history, archaeology, classics.”He added:”The arts and humanities are fundamental to the growing of our society; understanding gathering, important thinking and creativity must be protected as sacred things.”skip previous newsletter promotionFree newsletter|Every weekday Register to First Edition Our early morning email breaks down the key
stories of the day, telling you what’s taking place and why it matters after newsletter promotion Lee, who is also an emeritus teacher of English literature at the University of Oxford, said the cuts would set”a savage and alarming precedent for the dismantling of disciplines, which matter profoundly and extremely to the welfare and future of the country”. She said:”If the leaders of Exeter University perform these cuts, others will follow. This is not just a local or regional problem. All who value the humanities and their worth to the country should take part demonstration. “Stewart posted on X:”Fretting from Exeter– the university it seems preparing to slash humanities teaching while informing coworkers it is ‘in line with the government’s commercial strategy ‘.” A spokesperson for the University of Exeter said the university was speaking with on”restricted and particular possible changes”, triggered by a shift in demand or”where present activities are no longer sustainable”
, and intended to prevent required redundancies any place possible.”While Exeter stays in a strong position, increasing expenses, the real-terms decrease in tuition charge income, underfunded research and a continual drop in global trainee demand suggest we should act now,”they said.Nick Hillman, the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said:”While it is always a tragedy, with genuine human effect, when courses close, it would be irresponsible of managers and governors to disregard modifications in demand for various courses.”