Save the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at KCL King’s College London
I have heard that due to the pressure on public finances in the UK and the subsequent effect upon higher education funding, it has been suggested that the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at King’s College London may be broken up and its members and faculties dispersed to other departments within King’s.
An online petition has been created to express our concern about this. The text of the petition is as follows. If you would like to add your name to the petition (it is a global list) please click here and follow the instructions.
To: Professor Richard Trainor, Principal, King’s College London
We would like to express our deep concerns over the projected dismemberment of the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at King’s College London. Although we recognise the need for King’s to make savings, we fail to understand what long-term purpose is served by dismantling a department and allocating its members to two or more different units. Experience teaches that, when a subject area is dispersed around departments and faculties, it never gets priority and in the end loses its capacity and influence. It is only too likely that the university sector will experience further cuts and in such circumstances isolated specialities would be particularly vulnerable. The great strength of King’s has always been that it is the only university in the UK to offer a combined programme in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, thereby emphasising the importance of continuity through the centuries. The ideal of Hellenism in its broadest sense, for which King’s stands, is reflected in its Centre for Hellenic Studies and in the Koraes chair. As dismantling the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies would mean the end of a long and rich tradition, we urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to reconsider your plans.
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Trackbacks
- Aς ψηφíσoυμε óλoι για να σωθεí τo Tμημα Bυζαντινων & Συγχρoνων Eλληνικων Σπoυδων τoυ King’s College τoυ Λoνδíνoυ « christianna loupa journey to ithaca
- Aς ψηφíσoυμε óλoι για να σωθεí τo Tμημα Bυζαντινων & Nεoελληνικων Σπoυδων τoυ King’s College τoυ Λoνδíνoυ « christianna loupa journey to ithaca
- Poor performance or anti-Greek conspiracy? The campaign to save the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at King’s College London is controversial « Byzantine Blog
- Centre for Hellenic Studies King’s College London: a new future? « Byzantine Blog
- myByzantine Blog One Year On « Byzantine Blog
As a Canadian writer who had no access to any course of Byzantine Studies in Canada, for a literary project about St Demetrius of Thessalonica, I have been indebted to the work of scholars associated with the Department of Byzantine Studies at King’s College. Moreover, over the course of the ten years this project consumed me, I have become aware of the accelerating international interest, among lay and professionals alike and especially among young people, in the history, culture, politics, legacy etc of Byzantium. To disband the King’s College Department at this time is, to say the least, inopportune. It would represent an enormous disservice to those are coming into the field.
it is really a shame. It is very important to save the Dept. of Byzantine
and Modern Greek Studies at KCL KING’S COLLEGEOF LONDON.
This decision deprives the coming generation of scolars from a valuable insight into one of the most important era’s of culture and history
this department perpetuates one of the most important cultural periods
in Human history for future generations. It must be supported to survive.
it is really a shame.
Is it really for economical reasons or an act against our history???
Why they dont close any other musseum?
Civilization must continue.
it’s really a shame!
this would constitute a threat to our world civilization
Could you please save us the drama, guys? King’s did badly at the last research assessment exercise and the UK government is now slashing funding of the university sector. theresult is that some jobs have to go. Period. Nothing to do with this nonsense here about civilization, history etc etc