Expanding Horizons

Expanding Horizons

Connecting with Professional Organisations and External Partners

 Challenges

• Dominance of English• Decline in student numbers• Funding climate• Promoting the case for languages with

students, funders and policy-makers• Making our work relevant to our stakeholders

The importance of external engagement• Other voices and new perspectives• Aligning our offer to meet and exceed the

expectations of stakeholders• Giving meaning to rhetoric about global,

international and intercultural aspirations• Benefits of reciprocal relations

Three stages to set goals1. Rank priorities for your language department

2. Allocate goals to your priorities

3. Focus on practical ideas to achieve your goals

Rank your priorities • Resources and support• Raise the profile of languages• Innovation in teaching and research• Boost numbers applying to study languages• Grow IWLP• Improve careers advice for students• Personal and professional opportunities for

languages colleagues• Other?

Match goals to your prioritiesExamples:• Inject inspiration and innovation• Develop knowledge exchange• Improve careers information and advice• Foster links with businesses• Work placements for staff

Inspiration for practical ideasFocus on ideas for practical ways of achieving your goals• Look at mini-case studies and other good

practice• Consider ideas that meet your priorities and

goals • Be realistic about the time and resources

available

Devising your offerPrinciple of collaboration for mutual benefit

• How can external partners support languages at your institution?

• What benefits can you offer to external stakeholders?

Benefits to HE of external partners’ support• Careers and recruitment• Knowledge exchange for personal and

professional interest• Strategic intervention• Financial and practical support• PR and publicity

Benefits to external partners of HE support• Knowledge transfer and exchange• Recruitment and workforce • Financial and in-kind• Organisational and personal / professional

objectives

Making connections• Harness existing contacts• Seek international links in other faculties• Involve alumni• Host networking events• Join other organisations• Involve all colleagues in developing a professional

ethos• Be clear about commitment needed• Follow up and thank partners

Mapping potential partnersConsider the appropriate mix of:1. Organisations for Language Professionals2. Employers’ Organisations and Businesses3. Local Partners and Stakeholders4. National Organisations and Bodies5. International, Multinational and Global Organisations6. Communication partners

AND ALUMNI IN ALL SIX CATEGORIES

Organisations for language professionalsTeaching and Teachers’ Organisations• ALL• CILT• ISMLA• NALA• SSAT• TDA

Organisations for language professionalsProfessional Linguists’ Organisations• ATC• CIoL• ITI• SIETARand Other Networks and Consortia, such as Routes into Languages and Links into Languages

Employers’ organisations and businesses

Shared concernsThe 2010 Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Education and Skills Survey cites employer dissatisfaction with UK graduates’ foreign language skills as the greatest source of dissatisfaction (56%) in graduate skills, and international cultural awareness as the third greatest source of concern (40%).

Need to understand the benefits of language learning

• For direct, instrumental reasons

• For transferable skills

• For personal and cognitive attributes

Targeting employer partners• Which sectors?

• What size?

Key business organisations• BITC• CBI• Chambers of Commerce• CIHE• FSB• IEBE• IoD• UKTI

Local partners and stakeholders• Community and voluntary organisations• Conference and exhibition centres and sports

venues• Councils• Schools and colleges• Tourist offices• Twinning organisations

National 0rganisations and bodies

• AHRC• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)• Devolved governments in Northern Ireland,

Scotland and Wales• Westminster departments– BIS– DfE– FCO– MOD

International, multinational and global organisations

• CFCC in the UK• European Commission in the UK• IAMLADP• NATO• OECD• United Nations

Communication partnersMedia experts

• Communications and PR Consultants• Journalists and Broadcasters

Champions

• Celebrities, sports personalities, business leaders and politicians