There is alarm among the Deans of humanities departments around the country over looming cuts across arts subjects at Otago University.
Otago's pro vice chancellor of Humanities, Professor Tony Ballantyne has told staff there will be job losses across several subjects, believed to include English, linguistics, music, anthroplogy and languages.
The numbers of students undetaking BA's has been dropping at all universities, and early last year the deans of humanities departments held a strategy meeting to try save the arts degree
They say arts degrees are being devalued as universities come under pressure to focus on vocational degrees such as engineering, science, mathematics and technology.
Professor Paul Spoonley is the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Massey University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences and has been leading the charge to save the BA.
