New UWI students must now learn foreign language

New students at The University of the West Indies (UWI) will have to take up a foreign language and become “conversation competent” by the time they complete their degrees.

The UWI said on Thursday that it has “finally evolved as a multilingual institution” with a Foreign Language Policy that will require incoming undergraduates at its five regional campuses to participate in foreign language training at a general level.

“Going forward, the expectation is that all UWI graduates will be at least conversation competent in a language other than English,” Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies, Professor Justin Robinson said.

The policy is being implemented on a phased, faculty-by-faculty and campus-by-campus basis, beginning in the 2022/2023 academic year. Only students entering the university with prior competence will be exempt from the requirement.

The UWI said the decision was being implemented after in-depth internal strategic planning and discussion with regional education stakeholders.

It said this “seminal policy development” advances its compliance with best practices in teaching and learning found in elite-ranked cohorts.

“Significant change will enable the further regional and global mobility and empowerment of graduates. Foreign language proficiency will no longer be a major impediment to employment amongst our graduates in the global world,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

“This is a fundamental change that will transform the identity of UWI students and graduates and will provide more relevant graduates to serve as a development platform for the new, more modern, and globally competitive Caribbean economy.”

Universal coverage and participation of all students are anticipated within the next three academic years, the university said.

“Flexible access and easy learning is the pedagogical principle, with students having the option of self-tutoring or guided instruction. They will have the full duration of their academic programme to acquire language competence,” it added.

The UWI currently has teaching and learning departments on its campuses that produce graduates with specialised foreign language degrees, with both majors and minors in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin) and teaching competencies in others like Arabic, German, Hindi, Korean, and Yoruba. (DP)