What is EUNoM?
EUNoM is an ambitious European project that looks at multilingualism in the context of globalisation, the information society, and the knowledge economy from various perspectives. It is thus the aim of the project not to look at multilingualism in isolation, but to look at its role in society and its various elements.
EUNoM is a project supported by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union that will run from 2009-2012. During this period steps will be taken to ensure continuity of the project after the funding period.
EUNoM aims to:
- Build the key issues into (i) a framework to allow a reconception of the relationship between higher education, other levels of education and training, society and linguistic diversity, and (ii) a research agenda which can contribute to the EU research priorities;
- Raise awareness of the value and opportunities of the EU's linguistic diversity and encourage the removal of barriers to intercultural dialogue through guidelines and presentations at the local level;
- Devise a model to expand a network of institutions dedicated to the promotion of multilingualism in learning and research settings;
- Disseminate the project results to a wider audience across society by electronic publications and presentations;
- Ensure the sustainability of the network’s activities past the initial co-funding period.
top
Seven full partners participate in the EUNoM project:
- Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain) (lead partner)
- Centro Internazionale sul Plurilinguismo (Udine, Italy)
- Fryske Akademy / Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning (Ljouwert, the Netherlands)
- University of Primorska (Koper, Slovenia)
- Queen’s University Belfast (Belfast, United Kingdom)
- Erasmushogeschool Brussel (Brussels, Belgium)
- Centre for European Research (Llanfair PG, United Kingdom)
Apart from those full partners, around twenty universities, research centres, and pan-European organisations are involved as associated partners.
top
Five symposia will be held, targeting specific themes relevant to the European Commission’s focus on multilingualism, and highlighting cutting-edge research and good practice. The project will be concluded with a sixth and final conference that will be held in Brussels. At this final conference the main findings of the project will be presented, including policy proposals and recommendations. The proceedings will be published and disseminated.
The following EUNoM symposia have been planned:
The following EUNoM symposia have already taken place:
- Multilingualism in the Knowledge Economy: Labour Markets Revisited, and Corporate Social Responsibility, 14-15 November 2011, Queen's University Belfast, UK, provisional programme
- Managing Multilingual and Multiethnic Societies and Institutions, 19 - 21 June 2011, University of Primorska, Koper (Slovenia)
- Higher Education and Research on Multilingualism: Challenge or Opportunity?, 18-19 November 2010, the Fryske Akademy/Mercator Research, Ljouwert/Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
- Language teachers: training for a new paradigm, 7-8 September 2010, Centro Internazionale sul Plurilinguismo, Università di Udine
Here you can find a photogallery of the symposia.
top
The EUNoM website provides more information about the project in general, symposia and other events that will be organised, as well as an online discussion forum. The forum will be used in advance of each symposium to stimulate in-depth discussion of the symposium’s themes and to allow follow-up after the symposium.
Here you can read the latest EUNoM newsletter.
top
With the support of the
Lifelong Learning Programme
of the European Union
