London Metropolitan University has announced plans to axe about 400 courses, cutting the number it offers by two-thirds ¨C from 557 to roughly 160.

The reduction forms part of a radical shake-up of the undergraduate curriculum, with a move to year-long modules consisting of 30 weeks of timetabled teaching from 2012-13.

Over the year, students will typically study four modules worth 30 credits each. They will receive a ¡°minimum¡± of 60 teaching hours per module.

In a statement issued today, London Met says: ¡°First-year studies will be more tightly organised, with an average number of 12 teaching hours per week.

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¡°With this longer learning time, there will be more opportunity for development and guidance before students move to final examinations.¡±

The Report of the Review of Undergraduate Education, which was endorsed by London Met¡¯s academic board on 14 April, says that one of the aims of the overhaul is to ¡°ensure an offering that is sustainable in terms of current and future demand¡±.

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It recommends that the changes be introduced in a ¡°big bang¡± in September 2012.

Malcolm Gillies, the vice-chancellor of London Met, said: ¡°Our new curricular focus will help us to target our resources much more keenly. A more uniform cohort size also gives more equitable distribution of teaching effort.

¡°The transition to this new curriculum will cause some pain, as we adjust to the new courses, but it underscores the university¡¯s commitment both to quality education and social responsibility.¡±

A spokeswoman for the university acknowledged that the overhaul would result in job losses, but said she did not have figures for the number that might be affected.

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Cliff Snaith, branch secretary of the University and College Union, said that the curriculum overhaul, with its focus on ¡°employability¡±, was indicative of ¡°radical right-wing elitism¡±.

¡°Basically the government does not want to bankroll our type of students on arts and humanities courses,¡± he said.

¡°At London Met, history, performing arts, philosophy and many, many other courses are slashed. These are well established and successful courses - for example, there are 70 plus students per year on the BA performing arts.

¡°None of this makes economic or educational sense for the institution, but [it makes] a lot of sense if you are an elitist who does not think the masses should enjoy higher education.¡±

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He added: ¡°London Met has the most diverse demographic of students in UK higher education, but our vice-chancellor apparently believes they only deserve the narrowest and most functional portfolio of courses.

¡°The announcement today is an attempted reversal of widening participation and of genuine community education, a reversal of everything that London Met and its predecessor institutions came into existence to promote.

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"It also refers to 'big bang' in 2012. This means our current first years will have no third year.¡­Staff and students will resist this form of social and educational elitism and fight it by all means possible.¡±

john.gill@tsleducation.com