ITI raises concerns about the proposed cuts to LINCS
ITI's Chief Executive has written to senior leaders at Heriot-Watt University raising the Institute's serious concerns about their plans to reduce the capacity of LINCS and warning of the serious economic and cultural risks of such a move.
FAO Professor Richard A Williams CBE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the University Executive and Court
Proposed changes to the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS)
The Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) has been made aware of the petition raised in response to proposals to reduce staffing and potentially close programmes within the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS). We understand that these proposals form part of university-wide cost-cutting measures designed to address significant financial difficulties.
While we appreciate that the university leadership is navigating a challenging operating environment we wish to register our serious concerns about the potential loss of degree-level language courses and the harm this could cause within the languages sector.
The UK has reached a critical juncture in language education. As detailed in our recent report: The strategic case for languages in UK higher education (January 2026), compiled jointly with CIOL and ATC, language deficiencies cost the UK economy approximately 3.5% of GDP annually. Yet 28 universities have closed modern languages degrees since 2014. This decline threatens UK economic competitiveness at precisely the moment when these capabilities are most needed.
Heriot-Watt’s distinctive position
Edinburgh has a strategic need for graduates with language capabilities. The capital city’s position as a diplomatic, cultural and business hub makes the presence of high-quality language professionals essential. LINCS already plays a key role in ensuring the pipeline of skilled linguists and has the opportunity to build on its global recognition as a centre of expertise in languages and intercultural studies.
The department’s programmes emphasise professional skills and industry relevance, aspects that employers greatly prize. Significant investment in state-of-the-art facilities, modelled on those used in the European Parliament, provides students with professional-standard interpreting booths and access to current translation technologies. LINCS staff take pride in preparing graduates for the evolving language services sector, while strong international partnerships and research-led teaching have produced graduates who are highly valued across the profession.
As noted in Upskilling Scotland: The Future of Skills and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (SCDI, 2020): “In an increasingly global economy and society, demand for language knowledge and skills and socio-cultural awareness will only increase to better understand customers and markets. The Scottish Government’s Export Growth Plan (2019) notes that language barriers are a significant barrier to the key objective of further internationalisation of the Scottish economy… Improving the language skills of Scotland’s workforce could therefore boost the Scottish economy by up to £6.3 billion.”
Translation and interpreting: a growing profession
The language services market exceeded $70 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $96 billion by 2030, demonstrating that improvements in technology have not reduced demand. Despite claims that AI has made language skills obsolete, the evidence does not support this. 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.
Heriot-Watt’s programmes, which teach both translation theory and AI literacy, prepare graduates for this hybrid professional reality where volume and speed are balanced against quality and accuracy. In addition, the skills fostered through language learning, such as improved literacy, mental agility, creative originality and problem-solving ability, enhance graduates’ employability across all sectors.
Leadership in a critical moment
In our view the current proposal to reduce the capacity of LINCS represents a failure of strategic vision at a moment when leadership is urgently needed. Heriot-Watt has the opportunity to position itself as a champion of professional language education rather than contributing to a national crisis that threatens Scotland’s economic prosperity and international engagement. Choosing to follow the damaging trend of short-term cost-cutting that undermines long-term strategic interests would be highly damaging to Edinburgh’s global reputation and to Scotland’s future prospects. With an internationally respected team already in place, specialist provision that addresses critical skills shortages, and strong demand in a growing global market, the case for maintaining and strengthening LINCS is compelling.
We therefore respectfully urge the senior leadership team to demonstrate strategic leadership by recommitting to language provision and helping to shape the much-needed renaissance of language and cultural literacy that the UK desperately needs.
Yours sincerely
Sara Robertson FRSA FIIC
Chief Executive, Institute of Translation and Interpreting
