MORE than 2,000 people have signed a UCU petition calling on Heriot-Watt University to ditch plans axe a third of its languages and intercultural studies staff.

Part of wider cost-cutting across the university, which has already resulted in an overwhelming vote for strike action due to begin next week, the cuts to the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies would see 11 jobs lost and undergraduate teaching of German and Chinese cease.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “To cut back on the teaching of German and Chinese makes no sense educationally, culturally or economically.”

Branding the cuts across the university “wrong,” branch spokeswoman Marion Winters said: “UCU members voted for and will take action to defend jobs.  

“University management need to listen not just to their staff and students; but also to the 2,000-plus people who have signed this petition and industry experts and academics who are warning that these cuts will damage the university’s reputation.  

“We’re calling for management to engage in meaningful talks and to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.”

Heriot-Watt University was contacted for comment.