SAVE OUR MAJOR - STUDENT STATEMENTS AND COMMENTS
SAVE OUR MAJOR
STUDENT STATEMENTS AND COMMENTS
Below are affected student statements and comments. These students are running a petition which you can sign at the NUSA building.
Student 1 - Wishes to remain anonymous
As a student of Newcastle University studying Chinese and planning to move to China for work opportunities when I complete my degree, I feel very strongly the importance of Chinese being taught comprehensively and academically at the university. The fact that the university is planning to reduce this major seems to me to show a lack of awareness on the university’s part as to the integral part Chinese language and culture plays in Australia. Chinese is the most spoken foreign language in Australia and has been defined by the Australian government as a language that needs to be taught in our schools. The blatant disregard of these facts has shaken my faith in University of Newcastle as a legitimate academic body and has made me seriously reconsider any post-graduate study that I was planning to do. The way that the university has gone about this process also makes me feel betrayed as a student and as if the university has very little regard for the students, the actual reason for their existence.
Student 2 - Wishes to remain anonymous
Mid semester I had a chance to change universities, the ONLY reason that I stayed at UoN was because of my lecturer Li Xia and her Chinese program. I knew that wherever I went I could never have a teacher as good as her. As a result of UoNs actions I feel hurt and betrayed by the very university that I chose to support. Chinese is SO important right now and I can’t believe that the university would treat its students this way. I signed up for a program with UoN with every expectation of completing what I started, not being palmed off to an external body.
Student 3 - Luke Piggott
I feel the university has been very unclear and intentionally kept information from students and staff. It seems as if the university is trying to postpone everything until the end of year so they are able to institute changes over the Christmas holidays while there is no one to oppose them. The university has never contacted students regarding the changes taking place and any meetings have been initiated by student contact. The changes taking place because of the Bachelor of Arts review I believe the secrecy and lack of contact with staff and students regarding to indicate an unfair and undemocratic approach to education. The leaders of the university are not taking into account the needs of their students, and their education takes second place to the universities underlying motives whatever they may be.
Student 4 - Wishes to remain anonymous
It is important for the University of Newcastle to support a solid Chinese discipline due to our large Chinese community within both Newcastle city and the University, as well as with the economic ties that our region has with China through the mining boom. The fact that most European countries teach children a minimum of two languages in primary school also highlights Australia's linguistic weakness.
Student 5 - Karleigh Holdom
The diminution of the Chinese academic program at the University of Newcastle is a serious blow to the international standing of the institution.
Australia's geographical position, plus extensive economic, strategic and cultural interests in the Asia-Pacific region, should guarantee Asian languages (and Mandarin in particular) a place of pride in any self-respecting institution of learning.
The criteria by which Mandarin is now judged to be relatively unimportant is not being applied to other languages; languages which lack the cultural and economic significance of Mandarin Chinese. In the minds of the students this points to both the university's desire for monetary gain above all, as well as its willingness to accommodate staff agendas in its decision-making process.
Students who wished to study Mandarin as a major or through the Diploma in Languages are being seriously disadvantaged at this university.
While the future of Chinese at UoN remains uncertain, the university cannot in good faith claim to have a "curriculum...reflect[ing] global knowledge and our international positioning" (university website).
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