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Language policy in European higher education

Researchers in discussion with policymakers

The increased Englishization of higher education is under discussion in several European countries. Hasn't Englishization gone too far? Is it widening the gap between science and society? Does it threaten Dutch culture? What does a balanced language policy look like that does justice to both the increasingly international character of higher education and a country's language-related cultural identity? At an international symposium on July 1 and 2 in Maastricht, researchers and policymakers will discuss these issues.

Dilemmas and challenges

Researchers and policymakers from a variety of European countries are considering the dilemmas and challenges of Englishization. They are looking at how this is dealt with at different levels of government and what can be learned from experiences in other countries. For example, whether the language policy meets the cultural and economic policy of a country. But also what are the economic and social costs and benefits of Englishization.

Also discussed is the impact of language policy on other policies. Such as the question of whether Englishization leads to a dichotomy between students who exclusively follow a program in English and those who do not. 

These and other questions addressed at this symposium are of interest not only to researchers, but also to other stakeholders such as business, government and civil society.

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