Welcome to UCML
The University Council for Modern Languages (UCML) was established in 1993 and is the overarching national organisation which represents the interests of modern languages, linguistics and cultural and area studies in higher education throughout the United Kingdom, and works with corresponding bodies in other countries.
Its membership includes more than 100 schools and departments of modern languages in universities and colleges of higher education throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, together with professional and scholarly associations in the field of modern languages, and public and private educational organisations concerned with study, teaching and research into modern languages, linguistics and cultural and area studies.
OBE for UCML Chair
Congratulations to Pam Moores, Chair of UCML, who has been awarded the OBE for services to languages in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Read more ...
Lord Ron Dearing
The UCML Executive Committee was saddened by the news of the death on 19th February of Lord Dearing at the age of 78. While he is remembered primarily in university circles for his 1997 review: 'Higher Education in the Learning Society' he is also remembered by the languages community for his 2007 Languages Review in the secondary sector. Many of us in the HE languages community met him during this time and appreciated the way he addressed the complex issues and raised the profile of language learning with wisdom and humour. A memorial service will be held on 7th July in London.
UCML executive news
Dr Peter Davies of the University of Edinburgh recently joined the Executive Committee representing Scottish HEI's.
Following the recent call for nominations, we can confirm that Tony Shannon-Little of the University of Wolverhampton will replace Janet Lloyd as Treasurer from 1st August 2009.
At the same time the following will join the Executive Committee: Nebojša Radić of the University of Cambridge, representing Institution Wide Language Teaching and Mary-Anne Ansell of the University of Leeds, representing English Language Teaching.
Language Matters
The British Academy has recently commissioned a report from a team of external researchers at RAND Europe in response to concerns that UK-born and -educated researchers lack essential foreign language skills, which limits their ability to engage with research topics requiring advanced knowledge of languages other than English.
You can download the reports from the British Academy Language Matters web site.
Our next Plenary meeting
3 July 2009
Room STD/3B01 (S-3.01) at Kings College, London in the Strand Campus
We are currently finalising plans for the next plenary meeting, which is open to anybody in an institution which is a member of UCML. For information about Membership please click on the tab above.
Our next workshop: "The Bologna Process and its implications for Languages Schools/Departments in UK HEIs"
3 July 2009
Room STD/3B01 (S-3.01) at Kings College, London in the Strand Campus
Open to anybody based in an institution which is a member of UCML. This workshop will follow the UCML plenary meeting.
Amalgamation with SCHML
In January 2008, the Standing Council of Heads of Modern Languages (SCHML) agreed to dissolve its organisation and amalgamate with UCML. The amalgamated organisation, known as UCML came into being in July 2008. SCHML workshops will continue to be organised twice a year by members of the UCML executive.
