Asian studies closure decision ill-judged

Aug 8 2003 By Nicholas Craig, The Journal

I am dismayed that Durham University has closed its Department of East Asian Studies, scrapping its 50-year history of specialised Chinese and Japanese programmes.

I know from my many visits to Beijing that links with Durham are highly valued. As China works towards closer relationships with the West, the timing of this announcement could hardly be worse.

It slams shut a long-standing and trusted relationship between the North-East and China.

The decision must also place a question mark over Durham's wonderful Oriental Museum. It has important collections of Chinese and Japanese art and artefacts.

The decision to close the departments of East Asian studies and linguistics is part of an £8.7m restructuring plan. Funds will be concentrated instead on areas with evidence of strong research and most appeal to students. But closing the East Asian department and scaling down the Chinese and Japanese courses is seen by many as shortsighted.

Many highly regarded officials in Japan and China are Durham University graduates. In Japan, about 10pc were once part of the East Asian Studies department.

The region's success in attracting investment from the Far East has been helped enormously by the East Asian Studies programmes, illustrating the linguistic capability and cultural understanding in the North-East.

The decision to close this department has provoked shock and fury from the Foreign Office, high-ranking diplomats and the business and education communities.

Given the growing economic power of East Asia, this is an ill-judged time to close a rare and esteemed East Asian studies departments.