More than 100 academics, writers and activists from around the world have signed an open letter condemning plans to close an MA in Black research studies and worldwide justice at Birmingham City University (BCU), just months after it was first launched.The relocation follows the controversial closure of BCU’s undergraduate course in Black research studies in 2024, and has triggered cautions that Black studies are being removed from UK greater education.Five Black members of personnel are at threat
of redundancy, consisting of Prof Kehinde Andrews, a leading analyst who originated the development of BCU’s Black research studies programme.Andrews said he and four coworkers were called into a conference with simply 24 hr’ notification to be told that a choice had actually been taken in February to shut down the MA. The university has actually blamed low recruitment. Eight trainees are presently on the MA course.Andrews added:”The MA only began this year, so they have provided it a couple of months before deciding to suffice, with absolutely no assessment with personnel or trainees. They have actually also admitted to not completing an equality effect assessment.”He told the Guardian:” It actually has to do with erasure. The university needs to be ashamed.”Andrews has actually now written an open letter to the university’s board of governors, requiring the choice to be evaluated.
He claims the conduct of the university and its decision-making are “deeply flawed”and potentially discriminatory.UK universities are currently engulfed in a monetary crisis and lots of have executed widespread cost-cutting procedures. There are claims, nevertheless, that cuts are disproportionately affecting Black scholarship.Andrews cites the case of Prof Hakim Adi, who was made redundant in 2023 by the University of Chichester, which cut his MRes on the history of Africa and the African diaspora, and described it as” a distressing trend “.
“In the US there is an attack on Black intellectual idea, in the UK there is so little of it on offer in higher education that the bigger problem is disregard. When we do manage to use such courses they ought to be supported, not stamped
out at the earliest chance,”Andrews composes in his letter to the board.Among the signatories to the letter is Prof Kalwant Bhopal, director of the Centre for Research Study in Race and Education at Birmingham University, who stated the closure of the BCU MA course”signifies a turn towards strengthening Eurocentric knowledge and Whiteness in which Black students and academics will no longer have the space to challenge structural, institutional and private acts of bigotry in college.” This follows a pattern of previous courses which have shut down and is an attempt by universities to attack and silence Black intellectual scholarship strengthening White opportunity.”Other signatories consist of reporter and author Yomi Adegoke, artist, author and activist Akala, Labour MP Marsha de Cordova and Nicola Rollock, teacher of social policy and race at King’s College London, in addition to academics from around the world.A university representative stated that after a review of BCU’s postgraduate portfolio, a small number naturally– consisting of the Black research studies MA– would be withdrawn from September because of low need, though current trainees would be able to complete their studies. “The university is checking out chances for alternative arrangement in each case. A consultation process is under way with afflicted personnel to discuss the impact of the course closures and check out reasonable options to reduce functions at risk.”