The University Of Kent has announced it is axing its music and audio technology courses as part of wide-ranging cutbacks that will impact on six departments in total. The cuts, the university says, are a response to “a number of financial challenges including the fixed tuition fee, rising costs and changes in student behaviour".
As with the announcement last year that Oxford Brookes University is closing its music department, music education and music industry organisations have expressed concerns about the latest cutbacks in higher education music courses.
The Musicians’ Union says a root cause is the Conservative government’s failure to invest in music education more generally. It also notes recent commitments made by the Labour Party which, the union hopes, will result in more support for the arts and arts education if Labour forms the next government after this year’s General Election.
Meanwhile, UK Music’s Interim CEO Tom Kiehl, an alumni of Kent University, says, “As we approach a General Election in the UK, I hope that the government and political parties will reflect on the policy decisions and messaging that has led to universities deciding to close their musical offerings”.
Justifying the cutbacks - which also impact anthropology, art history, health and social care, journalism and philosophy courses - a statement from the University Of Kent says, "Like many in the sector, we are responding to a number of financial challenges including the fixed tuition fee, rising costs and changes in student behaviour".
These and other changes, part of what the university calls the Kent 2030 plan, are "to ensure we get ahead of this, adjusting what we do to match changes in demographics while meeting the ambition of students in what they can study at Kent and the ways we support them in doing that".
On logistical matters, the university says, "Students on the courses to be phased out will be supported with normal teaching and supervision through to the end of their degrees, including ongoing careers advice after they graduate. We will be working with staff in the weeks ahead to ensure we have appropriate teaching in place to support this, recognising that those affected will need time to think through their options".
Kent Online reported last month that a number of courses were set to be cut resulting in redundancies at the university. Courses in English, modern languages and forensic osteology were also facing the axe, but the university now says they will be retained "in some form".
As noted, a number of music education and music industry organisations have commented on the news, with their statements collected below.
Chris Walters, National Organiser For Education at the Musicians’ Union: “This latest closure is a tragedy for both staff and students at this established and well-respected university music department. A complex web of issues have led to this and other recent university music department closures, but at root is the Conservative government’s failure to meaningfully invest in and support music across all levels of education. We welcome Labour’s recent statements on the importance of the arts and arts education, and we hope to see a more supportive approach to music education at all levels if there is a change of government at the next election”.
Tom Kiehl, Interim CEO of UK Music: “We were saddened to hear of yet another closure to a music department - especially one at my alma mater. Institutions and courses like this are an important part of the talent pipeline - nurturing and supporting the next generation that the music industry in the UK relies upon to be the powerhouse that it is. The music industry generated £4 billion in exports and contributed £6.7 billion to the economy in 2022. This doesn’t happen without the hard work of countless tutors and numerous educational institutions, and as we approach a General Election in the UK I hope that the government and political parties will reflect on the policy decisions and messaging that has led to universities deciding to close their musical offerings.”
Deborah Annetts, CEO of the Independent Society Of Musicians: “The University Of Kent’s decision to close its Music And Audio Technology Department is sad news and yet another blow to the UK’s position as a global leader of music. By shrinking the opportunities to study music in this country, we are damaging the vital creative talent pipeline that supports our music industry. We urge Kent to reconsider and keep the music department open”.
Bridget Whyte, CEO of Music Mark, the UK association for music education: “We’re deeply concerned by another university closing opportunities to study music; university music courses are a vital part of the whole ecosystem of music education. On Tuesday, in Parliament, the schools minister reiterated the government’s commitment to all young people and children having access ‘to a high-quality music education’. We think that university music is a part of that ambition and serves not only future teachers, artists and leaders, but also audiences. Every closure threatens the wider sector, the local area, and the potential of music to shape student’s lives”.
Dr Roddy Hawkins, Chair of MusicHE, the UK’s subject association for music in higher education: “The future forecast that Kent has suddenly pivoted to may or may not solve the hole in its finances. In our view it incorrectly assumes that the last decade will prove a reliable guide to the next. Despite a challenging period for music education, there is a renewed, long-overdue cross-party support in place; recognition and commitment to the arts in schools will help to restore the pipeline to higher education. Indeed, on Tuesday in Parliament the schools minister reiterated the government’s commitment to all young people and children having access ‘to a high-quality music education’. University music is a part of that ambition, and serves not only future teachers, artists and leaders, but also audiences".