Times Higher Education. Dr Adam Ozanne (School of Social Sciences) has had a letter published in the THE (26 Feb 2015) in which he queries the University's decision to withdraw Middle Eastern Studies courses. He notes the recent comments by Rory Stewart MP that a lack of people who could speak local languages was a major problem for the British army in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that there is a need to improve our "deep understanding" of the Middle East to oppose Islamic State.  Further information.