ITI raises concerns about proposed cuts to Heriot-Watt language department

ITI has published an open letter to Heriot-Watt University's Principal, University Executive and Court, raising serious concerns about proposals to reduce staffing and potentially close programmes within the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS).

The proposals are understood to form part of broader cost-cutting measures at the university. ITI's letter warns that closing degree-level language and translation programmes in Edinburgh would cause significant harm to the languages sector at a moment when the UK can least afford it.

The letter draws on The strategic case for languages in UK higher education, the report published jointly by ITI, the Association of Translation Companies (ATC) and the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) in January 2026. The report sets out the economic, strategic and cultural case for maintaining language and translation programmes in UK universities. It highlights that poor language skills cost the UK economy approximately 3.5% of GDP annually in lost export trade, and warns that 28 universities have already closed modern languages degrees since 2014 - a trend that is creating a damaging cycle of declining provision.

ITI's letter argues that Edinburgh's role as a diplomatic, cultural and business hub makes the presence of high-quality language graduates essential, and that Heriot-Watt is well placed to be a champion of professional language education rather than to contribute to a national crisis.

The letter also challenges the assumption that AI has made language skills redundant. The language services market exceeded $70 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $96 billion by 2030. While AI tools allow greater volumes of text to be rendered quickly into other languages, raw machine translation is not suitable for all use cases and especially not for high-value, high-risk contexts. Meaningful communication requires empathy and trust combined with an understanding of cultural nuance, humour and diplomacy – capabilities that remain distinctively human.

ITI is calling on Heriot-Watt's senior leadership to recommit to its language provision and to demonstrate the strategic vision the moment demands.

Read more about the campaign to save LINCS and sign the petition.