Significant investment in education for German, French, and Russian languages
This initiative represents a new approach to university-level education in so-called smaller languages. The solutions developed within the project will ensure that our society continues to have highly educated experts in foreign languages and cultures in the future.
Satu Selkälä, a lecturer in German Language and Culture who was involved in preparing the funding application, is pleased with the development. “It is great that we have managed to establish such extensive cooperation. Through collaboration, we can shape language education at universities in the direction we desire. The decline in language diversity has been discussed for many years, and now is the time to act and restructure.”
At the University of Oulu, the project is being carried out with the involvement of Professor Sandra Reimann and University Lecturer Sabine Grasz.
Solutions to safeguard a diverse language repertoire
Teaching of foreign languages other than English has significantly declined in Finnish schools. Additionally, it is problematic that language education is not equally available to all, both socially and regionally. As a result, valuable potential – talented individuals – miss out on language learning opportunities.
The erosion of language diversity affects the entire society. Language skills are a crucial form of expertise that contribute to the reliable functioning of society, even in times of crisis.
The project will develop inter-university cooperation in curriculum planning and student admissions for German, French, and Russian language programmes. Collaborative teaching and shared best practices will free up resources for research.
Furthermore, the project will pilot a model that allows students to begin university studies in German or French without prior knowledge of these languages. This model is a nationally significant step toward making university language education in these languages more accessible. A parallel pathway requiring prior language skills will remain available.
The project is coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä. In addition to Oulu, participating institutions include the Universities of Helsinki, Eastern Finland, Tampere, and Turku, as well as Åbo Akademi. The funding period runs from January 1, 2025, to July 31, 2028.