How?
There are several options for students to take language courses at Ghent University:
- specialist language course units at one's own faculty;
- a range of course units offered by the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy;
- specific university-wide elective course units;
- the foreign language offer at the University Language Centre (tuition fees apply);
- the (online) foreign language offer at the ENLIGHT partner universities (tuition fees may apply).
Study programmes can encourage their students to take language classes by:
- emphasising the importance of multilingualism in society and the labour market;
- incorporating foreign language skills in the programme-specific learning outcomes;
- promoting language classes as part of a preparatory learning trajectory prior to a study-abroad experience, or (if applicable) imposing them as a prerequisite for mobility (the International Relations Office offers outgoing students discounts on the UCT course offer);
- making room in the curriculum for students to take the courses mentioned above.
Another option is to foster your students' foreign language skills and multiperspectivism by means of other-language (preferably English) course materials (syllabi, literature, etc). However, sufficient explanation in Dutch is needed at all times.
A faculty/study programme can also choose to offer (more) (existing) English-taught course units. This may have a positive effect on incoming student mobility. If regular 'at-home' students take these course units together with exchange students, you pave the way for intercultural learning. It might also encourage them to study abroad themselves in the future. What is more, incoming students at Bachelor's level might, after a positive study-abroad experience, decide to enrol at Ghent University as regular students at Master's level.
Intensity
Blend@UGent
Internationalisation@Home
Fostering Multilingualism
What?
Multilingualism is an important prerequisite for an optimal use of various international and intercultural learning opportunities. A solid basic understanding of Spanish, for instance, will go a long way during a study-abroad experience at a Madrid university. In some cases, language classes are necessary. Think of, for instance, a thorough knowledge of medical German in the context of an internship at a Berlin hospital. Foreign language skills, moreover, are an essential element of being able to function in a multicultural society and a future international professional context. What is more, multilingualism is also a way to give tangible form to Ghent University's vision on education, i.e. multiperspectivism. It makes it easier for students to discover various perspectives, and adopt a critical approach.
