1. Rapporteur: Alex RIEMERSMA Fryske Akademy, Mercator Research Centre with the support of: Symposium 1 “Higher Education and Research on Multilingualism: Challenge or Opportunity?”

2. 2 Symposium data Venue: Leeuwarden/Ljouwert, Fryslân/Friesland, Netherlands Dates: 17-19 November, 2010 Attendance: 49 participants from 14 countries Topic: Higher Education and Research on Multilingualism

3. 3 Background rationale Language Education is changing: permanent education; use of multimedia; interculturality Universities develop comprehensive language policies both for their own students, staff and exchange students Research faces questions on the interaction between the regional and the global level within a plurilingual context, including minority and migrant languages

4. 4 Main speakers 10 presentations: Jochen REHBEIN (Ankara): the HELIX for multilingual communication in society Alastair WALKER (Kiel): the scientist’s role as researcher and adviser in the minority language community Mitja ZAGAR (Ljubljana): diversity management for inclusive collective identities

5. 5 Main speakers Jeroen DARQUENNES (Namen/Namur): language as an object of transdisciplinary study, towards awareness raising and implementation of linguistic diversity Rita TEMMERMAN (Brussels): plurilingualism and cultural diversity as competitive advantages Alex RIEMERSMA (Ljouwert/Leeuwarden): concept(s) of multilingual education: common standards, continuity, distant learning methods

6. 6 Main speakers Irina CHONGAROVA (Plovdiv): language competencies for international academic staff mobility Robert DUNBAR (Skye): SMO the unilingual minority language college in a multilingual university UHIMI (Scotland) Cecilia SERRA (Geneva & Lausanne): plurilingualism in Lugano university compared to Biel/Bienne university

7. 7 Main speakers Heidi RONTU (Helsingfors/Helsinki): university language policies and their practical implications for the endorsement of multilingualism – good example of the AALTO university in Helsingfors

8. 8 Publication 4 presentations have been published in the European Journal of Language Policy / Revue européenne de politique linguistique 3.2 (2011): Jeroen Darquennes Rita Temmerman Alastair Walker Robert Dunbar

9. 9 Main stakeholders Group discussion themes: Relation between the regional and global level; impact on multilingual society Contribution to the language policy at European level (EU and CoE) Language policy at the institutional level of the university

10. 10 Main outcomes (1) Conclusions: Need for common definition of ‘Multilingualism’ / ‘Plurilingualism’ Need for extended descriptions of various aspects of ‘Multilingualism’ at education-policy and institutional level Need for Observatory on EU linguistic and cultural diversity

11. 11 Additional Information (1) Thematic issue on “Language and the International University” (IJSL 2012, 216) > Comparison of Lleida, BAC and Cardiff. “Against the main stream”: Sami, respectively Faeroer university -  Language Choice between global policies and local norms  Attracting international students through the web “English the new Latin of Academia”

12. 12 Additional Information (2) Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh Medium University Consortium for 6 locations across Wales) > Support “Welsh Medium Premium” for: students participation, teachers’ quality institutional development > Publishing research of international standard in Wales

13. 13 Additional Information (2) University of Groningen & NHL university of applied sciences Ljouwert: Master on Multilingualism (one year / 60 ECTS) : Frisian as a language laboratory, a case for: language ecology language description and documentation language and media multilingual education the acquisition of foreign languages testing and evaluation Funded by provincial government for 2013-2017

14. 14 Main outcomes (2 ) Recommendations: Universities: Research on added values of multilingualism: benefits and costs, profits at cultural and cognitive level Authorities: encouraging of language learning and language use towards intercultural education EU institutions: protect and promote linguistic and cultural diversity towards equality of languages and cultures, including migrant’s and autochthonous minorities’ languages and cultures

15. Cultural Capital of Europe

16. Eskerrik asko Mange Takk Diolch Tankewol Trugarez Grazia Graciis Dankscheen Mercé plan Kiitos Dz'akuju so Köszönöm Hvala À ringraziavvi Spassi Bawww.mercator-research.eu