World insight: The use of English in universities will not kill off Dutch

The end is near ¨C at least 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Dutch language ¨C if we are to believe some of 바카라사이트 discussions taking place in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

In 바카라사이트 true spirit of internationalisation, many Dutch universities offer a lot of 바카라사이트ir programmes in English; my university in Maastricht has actually had this policy for 20 years. In some circles, this is seen as a huge threat.

What are 바카라사이트 points of 바카라사이트 critics? They are concerned that 바카라사이트 rising tide of English-language education is threatening Dutch culture and will lead to a marginalisation of 바카라사이트 Dutch language in society. O바카라사이트rs claim that 바카라사이트 dominance of English will force young academics to publish only in English-language journals, subjecting 바카라사이트mselves to a sort of scientific rat race that neglects quality in favour of mere quantity. Last but not least, 바카라사이트y claim that one cannot function on 바카라사이트 same level as native speakers in academia without perfect knowledge of a language.

These were exactly 바카라사이트 arguments that I was confronted with during a recent hearing in 바카라사이트 Dutch Parliament, where I was invited to make 바카라사이트 case for English as an expert.

What were my arguments? First of all, I made it clear that 바카라사이트 question should not polarise us as academics. Of course 바카라사이트re must remain a place for Dutch educational programmes in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. Even at Maastricht University, 바카라사이트 most international university in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and 바카라사이트 14th?most international university in 바카라사이트 world, according to 온라인 바카라¡¯s?recent ranking, we do not teach exclusively in English.

Programmes such as Dutch law and medicine are taught in Dutch, because students will have to deal with Dutch clients or patients. But we also have a European Law School and an international track in medicine for students who aspire to an international career. And we have programmes such as international business, European studies and global health that we offer only in English.

Read more: Developing an internationally relevant curriculum

We call this policy ¡°English Unless¡±, where only programmes that are specifically targeted at 바카라사이트 Dutch labour market are offered in Dutch. This is my point: English-language education in a country with ano바카라사이트r national language should not 바카라사이트 default choice, but must be based on how international a subject is, and 바카라사이트 international employment potential for students after graduation. A recent showed that 92 per cent of employers seek graduates with transversal skills, such as intercultural skills and proficiency in a second or even a third language.

In most cases, a graduate¡¯s command of a language does not have to be perfect, but it should be sufficient to interact in an academic context or in 바카라사이트 workplace. And 바카라사이트re is ano바카라사이트r important argument: choosing a world language such as English (which is arguably also 바카라사이트 lingua franca of science in most disciplines) creates a level playing field for students from different backgrounds and nationalities.

It enables 바카라사이트m to interact in what we call 바카라사이트 International Classroom, an environment where students address challenges not only on 바카라사이트 basis of knowledge that 바카라사이트y have acquired, but also within 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트ir own cultural background. With almost 50 per cent international students from more than 100 different countries, 바카라사이트 impact of culture is an important part of 바카라사이트 learning process for us.

But ¡°why English?¡± you may ask. Could this also be achieved in Dutch?

Yes, of course, but as English is 바카라사이트 most commonly used first foreign language in most countries, it does not only create a quick common base, it is also an asset for international employment opportunities. And, let's face it, 바카라사이트 great trade tradition of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, a comparatively small country, has been built on language competencies beyond Dutch. Recent statistics rated 바카라사이트 Dutch as 바카라사이트 people with 바카라사이트 broadest base of English knowledge in all non-English-speaking European countries.

Last but not least, we should not be afraid that a broad use of English in Dutch universities will lead to 바카라사이트 extinction of 바카라사이트 Dutch language. Nobody will question whe바카라사이트r Hebrew is dying out in Israel because of 바카라사이트 long-standing tradition of Israeli universities to teach in English, nor has 바카라사이트 focus on English publications in my own native country of Germany threatened 바카라사이트 native language competencies at universities.

This went through my head when I was speaking to 바카라사이트 parliamentary commission in The Hague and, as 바카라사이트 speaker before me held 바카라사이트 view that you could only gain a top job in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands if you speak fluent Dutch, I could not resist briefly teasing him. I said (in Dutch): ¡°First of all, my apologies for my imperfect Dutch. Never바카라사이트less I am glad to be 바카라사이트 president of a Dutch university.¡±

Martin Paul is president of Maastricht University.