Agenda item

Public Questions and Petitions

To receive any questions or petitions from members of the public

Minutes:

5.1

Public Question received from Nigel Slack

 

The University of Sheffield seems not to share the commitment of the residents of this city to providing a firm basis for Higher Education. In May the University decided to close it's Archaeology Department. This at a time when there is already a crisis in the availability of these highly skilled jobs. The demand for archaeological expertise to service major infrastructure projects has grown and it has a major role in ensuring our culture and heritage is not lost to uncontrolled development. From iron age sites to Victorian industrial heritage, new infrastructure and developments are threatening historical sites.

 

The number of graduates entering the profession has been in decline and Brexit will make it unlikely that external candidates can be recruited to fill the roles needed. Archaeologists are one of the 'Skilled Worker Shortage List' professions identified by the Government. Commercial archaeology units cannot recruit fast enough and the University's excuse that the demand for the subject is declining has been described by one commercial unit as “Absolutely False” & “Total Garbage”. (https://digventures.com/)

 

The University is putting a world renowned department in jeopardy for the sake of it's big business agenda. The Archaeology department provides expertise across the country, from Stonehenge to our own Sheffield Castle and it's loss would diminish the standing of the University as a seat of learning and damage the reputation of the city of Sheffield as a centre of the knowledge economy.

 

What steps will the City Council take to challenge this decision, in line with his commitment to skilled jobs within the city and to supporting the Arts, Culture and Heritage economy?

 

What will the City Council do to tackle one of the underlying causes of this issue, the Governments slashing of Humanities Education funding by 50%, thereby encouraging the creation of generations of narrow focus work fodder rather than all round well educated citizens of a modern city?

 

5.2

The Executive Member for Education, Children and Families shared the disappointment over the decision of Sheffield University to close its Archaeology Department, but unfortunately, the Council had no influence over the courses offered by the University.  Assurances had been given that the specialist niche areas had been absorbed into other courses.  The erosion of the education system was a source of concern and the Executive Member for Education, Children and Families gave a commitment to fight for a broader curriculum at all levels of education.

 

5.3

The Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport agreed that it was an important issue that would have a detrimental impact on the city and had asked for a meeting with the University management to discuss the issue.

 

 

Supporting documents: