Transcript Riding the Foreign Languages Roller

“Riding the Foreign Languages
Roller-Coaster” or...
Dr Murray Hill
Aberdeen Business School
The Robert Gordon University
SCHML, Belfast 18 January 2006
Or....
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White knuckle ride...
Aunt Sally stall...
Trench warfare syndrome...
Internecine warfare…
Guerrilla tactics...
Ambushes...
Hijacking...?
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Overview (45m incl Q/A)
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Brief history/Languages brief
Restructuring (management/FL courses/modules)
Languages in decline/transition
Redeployment (highs & lows)
Survival Tactics: maintaining visibility:
internal/external alliances; marketing initiatives
New portfolio development
Internationalisation agenda/drivers (EQUIS/AACSB)
Specific Indicators of Internationalisation (EFMD)
GAP Analysis >short/medium/long-term issues
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Brief history
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RGU: a post-1992 university
2 campus sites (previously 4)
1 campus site (2007)
No traditional languages department
First f/t linguist appointed 1990
1 SL, 3.5 Ls + p/t staff
Faculty of Management
Educational Development Unit (EDU)
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Languages brief
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Single European Market euphoria
University Policy on Europeanisation
French & German
Original Portfolio: hybrid language degrees
(not a UWLP in “classic” sense)
• BA European Architecture with Languages
• BA European Business Administration with
Languages
• BSc Technology & Languages
• BA Communication with Languages*
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Restructuring
• Educational Development Unit >
• Centre for Modern Languages (no budget)
• Centre for Modern Languages, School of
Librarianship > Information & Media >
• SIM (1 of 4 FoM Schools)
• 4 > 1 = new Aberdeen Business School
• New Department of Communication &
Languages, ABS
• Integrated C&L subject leadership
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Restructuring
• New Department of Communication &
Languages:
• BA(Hons) Corporate Communication
• BA(Hons) Publishing
• BA(Hons) Publishing with Journalism
• No language modules included by CLs in these
courses...
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Languages in decline
• Post-Higher (AS Level) entry pre-requisite
• Up to 50% compulsory language modules
• Compulsory Yr III abroad (4 yrs Hons
degree)
• Ab initio originally possible for 2nd language,
but discontinued
• CML proposal to allow post Standard Grade
entry rejected
• Dwindling numbers of post-Higher applicants...
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Languages in decline
• Common Course Architecture: introduction of
15 credit modules in place of 10 credit
modules
• Cessation of original portfolio of hybrid
language degrees (2006/7)
• No upgrades of languages
hardware/software/training
• Conversion of multi-media language lab to
MBA suite
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Languages (Staff) in Transition
• 1 L (German) > non-language role: intercultural
communication/new C & L departmental
research co-ordinator
• 2 Ls French > early retirement
• Interim solution: (Germanist “move into
French”) + ad hoc p/t staff
• “Economies of scale” (or lack of) impact on
renaissance of languages
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Languages (Staff) in Transition
• Delivery of cessating hybrid languages degrees
• 0.5 L (German) + 1 SL (German) > partial redeployment
• 1 SL (German) > temporary C&L departmental
Programme Manager role (non-languages)
• Professional Skills modules (ABS)
• Technical Report Writing & Presenting (Engineering)
• Placement/Dissertation supervision (C&L)
• Community Advanced German Class (“loss leader”)
• New ABS credit-bearing language option portfolio
development...
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Redeployment Highs & Lows
• Personal benefits: justify existence, use of
TEFL expertise (10% non-native speakers of
English), easier to teach, platform for
highlighting benefits of foreign language skills
• “move into French” = no formal staff
development training made available to SL
(German)
• Over-reliance on ad-hoc staff
• Line-manager reluctance to fund ad-hoc staff
development training
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Redeployment Highs & Lows
• “Technical Report Writing & Presenting”
(Engineering) materials developed from a zero
base
• “move into Professional Skills” = German
native speaker teaching English language
communication skills
• No research remit...
• Less time for new language development
initiatives
• “CAGC” arts cinema advertising funded
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Redeployment Highs & Lows
• “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
• “In the Bleak Mid-Winter...”
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“Maintaining visibility” Tactics
• Participation at CILT, Scottish Enterprise,
SCHML, LLAS events
• Reference to major reports (Nuffield,
Citizens of Multilingual World, Languages
Landscape)
• (Inter) governmental strategies/policies:
Languages Ladder > Bologna Agreement
• Feedback to line manager/SMT/Faculty
International Group
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“Maintaining visibility” Tactics
• FH Mainz Internationale Woche, Nov 05:
- DHL graduate recruitment policy > “very
good English + 1 other language”
• “Erasmus Mundus” Workshop, London, Dec 05:
- impact on language teaching for postgraduates?
• “UK Business in an International Context”,
Cranfield Management Centre, Dec 05:
- BMW recruitment issues
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“Maintaining visibility” Tactics
• External Publications, e.g. LLAS “700 reasons
for studying languages”, Liaison bulletins etc
• Internal alliances with linguists & non-linguists
at RGU, e.g. Course Leaders, Press,
Admissions, European Officers
• Internal and External Publicity (Prospectus!)
• Alumni etc languages features
• Stevenson, DAAD Languages Scholarships
• British Council English Language
Assistantships
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External alliances
• Liaison with schools, council authorities
• “Languages Work 2004” and “Languages Work
2005” conferences hosted at ABS
• “Events Manager”...
• High-profile guest speakers, incl ABS
graduates
• EuroAward winners 2004
• Huge demand for school presentations/CDrom
• Faculty Marketing plan fixture/Dean’s Report
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New language portfolio development
• Introduction of new ABS “Management” &
“Management with” degree Programme
• Reduction of entry prerequisite to Standard
Grade (GCSE) for language modules
• Roll-out of new Business French/German
optional modules 1-5
• Originally available on 5 courses 2004/5
• Now expanded to 9 courses 2005/6
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New course titles
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BA(Hons) International Hospitality Management (as of
2005/6)
BA(Hons) International Tourism Management (as of 2005/6)
BA (Hons) Law and Management (as of 2005/6)
BA(Hons) Management
BA(Hons) Management
BA(Hons) Management
(since 2004/5)
BA(Hons) Management
BA(Hons) Management
(since 2004/5)
with Marketing (since 2004/5)
with Human Resource Management
with Finance (since 2004/5)
with Economics (since 2004/5)
BA(Hons) Retail Management (as of 2005/6)
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Internationalisation issues
• Use of “European” and “International” in
degree titles (cf Hilary Footit, “What does
‘international’ in HE courses mean?”, LLAS,
Dec 2004)/ external examiner observations )
• ABS increasingly encourages study abroad at
partner institutions (delivering academic
modules in English)
• Socrates funds not available for predeparture language training, only “on- arrival”
training delivered by receiving institution
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Internationalisation issues
• Universities Scotland, HE umbrella body,
lobbying Scottish Executive
“The track record of Scottish students taking
placements in overseas universities...is not
good and we should seek to remove barriers
to greater mobility” (US policy document: Nov
2005, Scotsman 24.11.05)
• 1998-2003, Scots funded by Socrates-Erasmus 1,235
> 951
• US supporting “greater training in FL & more
government funding to help students pay their way”
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Internationalisation issues
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Which languages at ABS?
Spanish? Portuguese? Chinese? Arabic?
Challenge ad hoc decision-making
Business German 1 take-up: 4 (2004/5)
Business German 1 take-up: 17 (2005/6)
Will other Faculties adopt business language
modules?
• Open forum with returning Socrates-Erasmus
students
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Internationalisation issues
• (Another) Discussion paper on “Future
of Languages at ABS” (Dec 13 2005)
• ABS “Away Day”, January 17 2006
• Agenda: Internationalisation of ABS
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Learning the of language
internationalisation...
• New ABS drivers:
- AACSB
- EFMD
- EQUIS
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New drivers...
• AACSB: Association to Advance Collegiate
Schools of Business, “the world’s premier
accrediting agency for bachelors, masters ,
and doctoral degree programmes in business
administration, management & accounting” ,
1916/2003
• EFMD: European Foundation for Management
Development founded in the mid-70s, Europe’s
largest network association of management
development
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New drivers...
• EQUIS: a European system of quality
assessment & accreditation launched by
EFMD
• ABS commitment to become recognised as a
major player on the European and
International Business School stage...
• AACSB/EQUIS application in preparation
• ABS EQUIS “Away Day”...
• ABS Policy on Internationalisation
• Blue print/road map to “peace”
• Carte blanche? RidingtheFLRollercoasterSCHMLfv
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New (back-seat?) drivers
• “The theme for the day is our aspiration to
achieve international recognition through
accreditation by EQUIS & ACCSB”
• “The day will be highly participative and proactive. FMG wish to encourage all staff to
contribute to the development and
implementation of strategies designed to
achieve our aspiration”
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Specific Indicators of
Internationalisation (EFMD)
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Context/Mission/Governance/Strategy
Students & Participants
Programme Quality
Personal Development
Research, Development & Innovation
Contribution to the Community
Faculty
Resources & Administration
Connections to the Corporate World
Internationalisation
Executive Education
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2. Students & Participants
• “Foreign work experience of domestic
students”
• “Student exchange programmes – number of
students involved in both directions”
• “Practical indications of concern for
intercultural exchange for foreign & domestic
students”
• “International internships”
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2. Students & Participants
• “International placement of graduates”
• “Language ability of graduates”
(requirements, training)
• “Alumni association: contribution to
internationalisation & international reputation
of the school”
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Programme Quality
• “Course content focus on international
business environments”
• “Courses taught in foreign languages”
• “International perspective in all main fields of
knowledge or areas”
• “Courses jointly designed with partner
institutions abroad”
• “Internships & study abroad” as integral part
of programmes”
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3. Programme Quality
• “International learning materials (translated,
customised)”
• “Exchange visits”
• “Joint programmes with foreign schools”
• “International programmes”
• “International programme modules”
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4. Personal Development
• “Business language skills development”
• “Educational development of multicultural
skills”
• “International extra-curricular activities”
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5. Research, Development & Innovation
• “International joint research projects,
programmes and centres”
• “Publication in foreign journals”
• “Publication of books in foreign languages”
• “Translation of faculty books originally
published in the domestic language”
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6. Contribution to the Community
• “Links to the international community”
• “List of key relationships with international
organisations”
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7. Faculty
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“Faculty composition (foreign vs domestic)”
“International experience of faculty”
“Foreign language skills of faculty”
“Ability to speak in foreign languages”
“Ability to teach in foreign languages”
“Faculty serving as visiting professors
abroad”
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8. Resources & Administration
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“Language tuition for staff and faculties”
“Incentives to learn foreign languages”
“Staff international exchange programmes”
“Participation of administrators in
international conferences”
• “Foreign journals, magazines, newspapers
books in the library”
• “Brochures, websites, manuals, notices and
signals in foreign languages”
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9. Connections to the Corporate World
• “International companies involved in or
contributing to the different activities”
• “International companies providing jobs and
internships abroad”
• “International companies sponsoring activities
and/or research”
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10. Internationalisation
• “Internationalisation strategy”
• “International dimension in all its activities”
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11. Executive Education
• “International companies as clients”
• “Effectiveness in training for international
management”
• “Specific resources for international
executive education activity”
• “Foreigners in the staff”
• EFMD, Brussels: www.efmd.org
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ABS Gap Analysis
• ABS findings – confidential!
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Discussion paper on “Future of Languages
at ABS” (Dec 13 2005)
• Increase diversity of
languages provision?
• Rob Peter to pay Paul?
• Ab initio entry?
• Drop-in Languages
Centre?
• Formal Language
Advisory Service?
• Virtual campus?
• Multi-lingual signage/
web-pages >
international credentials
• Compulsory languages
for all ABS
undergraduates?
• Postgraduate languages?
• Subject modules to be
delivered in FL?
• ABS SMT “buy in” to
EQUIS by taking FL as
part of Staff
Development?
• New degree titles?
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Roller-Coaster ride
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Languages back on track?
New attractions?
Hall of Mirrors?
Ghost Train?
Tunnel of Love?
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Summary
• Hold on...
• Don’t get off the roller-coaster
• Do scream as loudly as you can!
• [email protected]
• *hot off the press…
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Hot off the Press…
• Guardian, 17/1/06:
“School makes study of Chinese compulsory”
Independent school, Brighton College, 1st
school in England to make Mandarin Chinese a
compulsory subject. Headmaster joining class
“to show the pupils how important I regard
this new addition to our core curriculum”)
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