Memorandum 94
Submission from the British Association
for Applied Linguistics
SUMMARY
1. This is a response from the British Association
for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) to the proposal to withdraw funding
support from institutions for students taking second qualifications
of an equivalent or lower level (ELQs) to their first qualifications.
BAAL is concerned that this proposal impacts on people wishing
to change careers in response to global market developments, and
that in particular individuals wishing to upgrade their qualifications
in applied linguistics and related subjects will be adversely
affected.
THE APPLIED
LINGUISTICS PROFESSIONS
2. Students with qualifications in applied
linguistics enter a number of professional fields, including:
— Language teaching, especially supporting
the integration of migrant communities in Britain by teaching
English as a Second Language.
— Academic Literacies development,
supporting both International Students at UK universities, who
constitute a major generator of income for those institutions,
and home students from backgrounds constituting the widening participation
agenda.
— Training students entering language-oriented
professions such as speech therapy and language support in schools.
— Engaging in research that informs
public policy and practice in areas such as education, the media,
and the law.
3. Individuals wishing to take such degrees
typically do so in order to change the direction of their professional
life. Most practitioners in applied linguistics experienced higher
education in another field before entering this one.
THE IMPACT
OF THE
PROPOSALS
4. It is particularly difficult to assess
the impact of the proposed realignment of funding on this field,
as it may appear in many guises. It is probable that many of the
programmes affected under the heading "Linguistics, Classics
and related subjects" as well as a large proportion of those
under "Education" will have most of their funding removed.
Projected losses in the first case are 3.8% and in the second
10.1% (based on HEFCE figures). This will have a severe impact
on the Applied Linguistics research and practitioner community.
January 2008
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