Cor van der Meer

cvdmeer@fryske-akademy.nl

Bozen/Bolzano, 17 January, 2012

Mercator Research Centre’s activities

• Research

• Publications & databases

• Network of Schools

• Conferences & seminars

• Advisory role

• Projects

• Mercator Research Centre - “lead partner” 4 Partner institutes:

• Aberystwyth – University of Wales• Barcelona – Ciemen• Budapest – Hungarian Academy of Sciences• Stockholm (Sweden) – Stockholm University

• „Linguistic diversity is a challenge for Europe, but, in

our view, a rewarding challenge.“ (Amin Maaloof, Group of

Intellectuals for Intercultural Dialogue)

• „Translation is the language of Europe.“ (Umberto Eco)

• „Who(ever) doesn't speak a foreign language, doesn't

know his mother tongue.“ (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

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CONTEXT

• Multilingualism is a declared goal of the European Commission

• Barcelona target: mother tongue + 2 foreign languages

• Last Commission: Leonard Orban (first Commissioner for Multilingualism)

• Multilingualism Unit

• Today: multilingualism under DG „Education and Training“, no proper

Commissioner anymore

• However, there are many activities in the field of multilingualism

• Strategic framework for European co-operation in education and training

(ET 2020)

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REQUIREMENTS AND REFERENCE DOCUMENTS OF

THE EC• The Council conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic

framework for European co-operation in education and

training ("ET 2020")

New skills for new jobs

New technologies, innovation and creativity

Key skills – computers, reading, maths, natural sciences

Early leavers from education and training, immigrants,

learners with special needs

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ET 2020 – 4 STRATEGIC GOALS

• Realise lifelong learning and mobility

• Improve quality and efficiency of education and training

• Promote equality, social cohesion and active citizenship

• Promote innovation and creativity – including entrepreneurial

spirit – at all levels of education and training

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PROCESSES OF TOPIC FINDING AND INFLUENCE ON POLICY

MAKINGOpen Method of Co-ordination with the member states:

2 groups with government representatives of all member states on „Early

Language Learning“ and „Language and Business“

Structured dialogue with representatives of the civil society – Civil

Society Platforms:

„Business Platform for Multilingualism“ (industry, employer‘s associations,

trade unions, other lobby associations)

„Civil Society Platform on Multilingualism“ (research- and cultural institutes,

translators, lifelong learning, programme for integration of immigrants and

socially disadvantaged minorities, etc.)

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EU CIVIL SOCIETY PLATFORM ON MULTILINGUALISM

• European Commission October 2009

• Structured dialogue with the civil society

• Goal: promote multilingualism in Europe in the fields of

culture, media and non-formal education

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TOPICS AND PROJECTS OF THE PLATFORM 2010 - 2012

• 29 umbrella organisations of

European organisations working in

the fields of (adult) education,

early learning, culture, research,

translation, subtitling, terminology,

minorities, social work,

immigrants, writers, theatre,

media, certification, language

teaching,

4 Working groups:

•Translation and terminology

•Education

•Language diversity and social

inclusion

•Language planning and language

policy

•Chair: Goethe, EUNIC , Brussels

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POLITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS CSPM

• EU-language policy still fragmented; gap between plans and

reality

• Research CSPM in all areas of civil society: policy

recommendations

• Multilingual education should become the norm (mother

tongue + 2 foreign languages)

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POLITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS CSPM

• Wide introduction of content based learning

• Create and develop informal learning opportunities outside

the classroom

• Better learning support for immigrants promote integration

and social cohesion

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POLITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS CSPM

• Improve language skills of public services

• Introduce sound study programmes

• Develop mobility opportunities

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POLITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS CSPM

• Translation should not be regarded as a second best option

(overcome linguistic and cultural frontiers)

• Improve working conditions for translators

• Raise awareness amongst policy makers, educationalists

and parents on multilingualism

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POLITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS CSPM

• Develop language policy that observes language use and

guarantees equality of languages

• Permanent CSPM as means for dialogue

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• Promote multilingualism in Europe

• Result of the deliberations of the CSPM: creation of On-line Language Observatory

• Reporting on best practice in language policy and language learning

• Co-funded through the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) of the European Commission

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PARTNERS

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GOALS

• Assemble and analyse data on multilingualism (ML) policy in Europe

• Set up a catalogue of ML tools

• Draw interest to multilingualism policy

• Advise policymakers in the development and implementation of ML policies

• Disseminate best practice through networks of ML policymakers

• Multilingual on-line language observatory

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OUTPUT

• Examples of best practice: urge policy makers to create better conditions for multilingual projects

• Reliable information on multilingualism for policy makers

• Tools to discuss multilingualism (blog)

• Catalogue of multilingualism tools

• Database with news, documents and events

• Importance of multilingualism for Europe

• Opportunities to promote multilingualism at grassroots level

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http://www.poliglotti4.eu

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Vielen DankThank you