This uni course will be scrapped across the whole of Wales, if planned cuts go ahead

A number of Welsh universities are currently facing the proposal of cuts to their institutions.

USW is facing job cuts, Swansea University has increased its cost cutting plan for £30 million and last year, Aber was potentially facing the removal of 200 jobs, and of course, Cardiff is set to cut courses as well as academic positions.

However, there is one course that will no longer be taught across Wales if Cardiff University’s planned cuts go ahead: Religious studies.

Cardiff is currently the only Welsh university to teach the subject, and if the theology department closes as plans, it’ll leave Wales without a higher education institution teaching religious studies.

The head of the organisation of Welsh churches has “condemned” the proposed demolition of all theology departments in Wales, calling it a “tragedy”.

The Trustees of Cytûn wrote an open letter to Welsh vice-chancellors and the Cabinet Secretary for Education, to demonstrate the closure’s effect on Welsh culture.

Reverend Dr Jennifer Hurd (Cytûn’s Chair), Cynan Llywd (General Secretary) and Reverend Gethin Rhys (Policy Officer) wrote on behalf of the trust.

The letter was joined by remarks from other members. Professor D. Densil Morgan, of the Bwrw Golwg Programme, stated: “Where you had Cardiff, Lampeter, and Bangor offering the whole range of theology, Biblical studies, doctrinal studies, Church history, philosophy of religion – the departments have effectively closed.”

Lampeter officially announced the closure of its main campus for the humanities department in January, leaving courses as such behind with it.

In a similar vein to Cardiff University, Bangor’s plans to cut jobs was revealed last week – with 200 jobs to be axed.

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Following on from Professor Morgan’s statements, Dr Rosa Hunt, the Co-Principal of Cardiff Baptist College, said: “These developments of are terrible for the academic subject of Religious Studies in Wales.

“Considering the role of religion in shaping Wales and our diverse world today, it would be a ‘disaster’ to lose this important area of study for students and academics alike.”

The letter not only expressed its concerns for the closure of theology departments, but also for the rest of humanities.

It noted the importance of subjects such as history, modern foreign languages and music, which are “key to enabling Wales to take its place within European culture.”

“Losing education in these subjects through the medium of Welsh would weaken our identity and imperil the ability of future generations to use the language in these fields of learning, as well as losing the necessary pipeline of qualified students who could teach Humanities and Languages in the Welsh medium schools.

“We ask, therefore, that you re-think the implementation of such cuts.”

They went on to question whether there was a prospect of Welsh language courses, both in teaching and in research, for the “future generations”.

Those who received the letter were: The vice chancellors of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David andCardiff University, the Chief Exectuive of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Along with the Chair of the Senedd’s Children for the Young People and Education Committee, the Welsh Conservatives’ and Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Education. And finally, the Future Generations Commissioner.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner has said: “Our proposals aim to create a more focused, higher quality research environment for staff and students that is world-leading with cynefin, place and co-creation at its heart.

“We also want to ensure a consistently excellent education experience for students of all backgrounds and experiences.

“I want to stress that these are proposals and our final plans will be shaped by our community – both internal and external – through formal consultation. The scale and challenge will remain, but the way we address it will certainly be refined and developed over the next 90 days.”

A Cardiff University spokesperson previously told The Cardiff Tab: “It’s important to stress that these are proposals and there is still a great deal of detail to work through before any final decisions are made. In the short term there will be no immediate impact on [religious studies] students or their ability to complete their studies.

“We are committed to delivering [religious studies] degree programmes to the students starting in 2025.”

Featured image (before edits) via Robert Chile on Creative Commons and Instagram