diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 13df6ff..0813c24 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 image: klakegg/hugo:0.88.0-ext-ci # recommended image by Hugo: https://gohugo.io/getting-started/installing/#docker
 
-variables:
-  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
-
 test:
   script:
   - hugo
diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
deleted file mode 100644
index 69d3f3c..0000000
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-[submodule "academic"]
-	path = academic
-	url = https://gitlab.com/gsilvapt/ansol-hugo-academic.git