Education

Save Italian language and culture programme at Leiden University

Petition is addressed to
The Leiden University Executive Board; the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Humanities

4,511 signatures

5,000 for collection target

4,511 signatures

5,000 for collection target
  1. Launched 29/01/2025
  2. Time remaining > 5 weeks
  3. Submission
  4. Dialog with recipient
  5. Decision

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Petition is addressed to: The Leiden University Executive Board; the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University plans to shut down the Italian Language and Culture program. The Faculty Board justifies its decision based on the following arguments: (1) a limited global perspective, a narrow geographical focus, and limited relevance of geopolitical developments within the field; (2) the uniqueness of the program; (3) societal significance, or the extent to which the program fulfills a social mission (e.g., as Italian is not a mandatory school languages in the Netherlands, the training of teachers in this language has no relevance). Additionally, (4) enrollment perspectives and future-oriented considerations are taken into account.

The program strongly questions the validity of this reasoning, particularly with regard to the first three points. As faculty members, we see that the relevance of the Italian Language and Culture program in our society and in the geopolitical context has by no means diminished—on the contrary. We are working to convince the Faculty Board and Leiden University of this relevance in an effort to save the program.

We kindly ask for your support in this endeavor.

Reason

The plan to close the Italian language and culture program stands in stark contrast to Leiden University’s international reputation in Language Studies. However, this decision aligns with a broader trend in Dutch national and academic politics to undervalue international languages and cultures. In our view, this policy has negative consequences for the critical and intellectual development of younger generations.
For this reason, we are fighting to prevent the closure of the Italian Language and Culture program in Leiden.
Details about the proposed decision can be found here.

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Petition details

Petition started: 01/29/2025
Petition ends: 03/28/2025
Region: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Topic: Education

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Why people sign

De opleiding Italiaanse taal- en letterkunde heeft mij veel gebracht. Een goede basis voor mijn professionele carrière en daarnaast mijn liefde voor de taal en het land verstevigd. De wetenschappelijke manier van het benaderen van materie gebruik ik nog dagelijks en ik heb zelfs het genoegen om het Italiaans frequent op mijn werk te gebruiken. Voor liefhebbers van de Italiaanse taal en cultuur dient de opleiding behouden te blijven! Speriamo bene!

Ik hoop dat de studie Italiaanse taal en letteren kan blijven, en zal bewijzen met een goed studie programma en goede professionals dat het dat waard is. Geen afgezwakte cultuur opleiding, maar gewoon waar taal en letteren voor staan.

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