29 April 2010

Dear Professor Driscoll,

I am writing to express my shock and outrage at the decision to close Philosophy programmes at Middlesex University. I have been the External Examiner for the Masters programmes in Modern European Philosophy and Philosophy and Contemporary Critical Theory for the past three years. As will be evident from my Examiner’s reports during this time, these programmes are highly successful and consistently produce work of the highest quality from students. This reflects the exceptional scholarly quality of the staff working at the Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy.

The Centre has a very strong international reputation and is by far the most important locus for research and teaching in European philosophy within the UK. This has clearly been reflected in the findings of previous Research Assessment exercises, which have confirmed the world class standing of this group of researchers, as well as generating significant revenue for Middlesex. It is very hard to see how the decision to close down Philosophy can be compatible with Middlesex’s stated commitment to the pursuit of research excellence.

If this decision is carried through then the University will lose an important source of its own reputation as an institution that cares about academic excellence and the needs of students. I urge you, most strongly, to reconsider this decision.

Yours sincerely

Professor Kimberly Hutchings
External Examiner, MA Modern European Philosophy and Philosophy and
Contemporary Critical Theory
Department of International Relations
London School of Economics
Houghton St
London WC2A 2AE