Ulysseus Advances Multilingualism at Language Policy Workshop Held in Seville
Representatives from across the eight Ulysseus European University partner universities gathered this week at the University of Seville for a two-day workshop. The event aimed at making progress in the development of the alliance’s comprehensive Language Policy.
The Language Policy, which will be published this autumn in all seven alliance languages alongside English, represents a significant step toward in fostering a vibrant multilingual academic community across European borders.
The workshop brought together linguistic experts from the Ulysseus partner universities to refine the policy framework that will guide language learning and cultural exchange throughout the alliance.
Participants engaged in collaborative sessions focused on implementing the policy’s four key pillars:
- Creating a multilingual academic community
- Promoting balanced use of alliance languages alongside English
- Developing comprehensive language and culture learning opportunities
- Raising awareness of multilingual and multicultural joint study programs
Future of Language and Culture Education
« This Language Policy is central to our mission of preparing our students and staff for an increasingly interconnected world. In today’s environment of global instability, language and intercultural competences aren’t just academic skills—they’re essential components of societal resilience and information security, » stated members of the working group.
The Ulysseus Language Policy aligns with the European Council’s strategic vision for language education, which encourages young Europeans to master at least two languages beyond their native language. A key component of this vision is the Ulysseus +2 Language Programme, one of the largest language initiatives among European University Alliances. The programme offers virtual courses in eleven languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Slovak, Finnish, English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Montenegrin. It also features the world’s first online Montenegrin language course.
Lingua-Culture Approach
Workshop participants emphasized the importance of integrating a « lingua-culture » approach, which recognizes language as inseparable from cultural understanding. This holistic approach is crucial for ensuring that language learning within the alliance is deeply connected to cultural exchange and awareness.
Finalizing the Language Policy
Following the Seville workshop, working group members will continue fine-tuning the Language Policy document, with the final version scheduled for publication in autumn 2025. The document will be released simultaneously in English and all alliance languages as a public document, demonstrating the alliance’s commitment to linguistic diversity in practice. As one participant emphasized, « This isn’t just about language acquisition—it’s about building an academic community where linguistic diversity is recognized as a strength and where intercultural competence becomes second nature to our community. »
About Ulysseus
Ulysseus is one of the 64 European Universities selected by the European Commission to become the universities of the future. Led by the University of Seville, the Alliance encompasses other seven universities in Europe: the University of Genoa, Italy; Université Côte d’Azur, France; the Technical University of Košice, Slovakia; MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®, Austria; Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, the University of Münster, Germany, and the University of Montenegro, Montenegro.