Foreign language skills and associated competences are frequently hidden players when navigating the job market. Employers seek potential candidates whose knowledge and qualifications best match and address the needs of what are often defined as specialist company positions. Prospective job applicants buy into these expectations unwittingly and many new graduates are focused on showcasing their newly acquired degrees in STEM, business and related fields of study. Therefore, entering the employment market arena with foreign language skills alone is challenging to say the least and calls for endurance and creativity.
This project aims to work around this issue by developing an online Employability for Languages Module (ELM). It will focus specifically on enhancing employability for students who have both core and dual competencies in foreign languages. The module will be supported further by creating an innovative Employability Skills Mapping Tool (ESMT) for students and staff. This will serve as a framework for both groups and help to promote outreach and a better understanding of the value of languages and language education as students embark on the move from campus to career. Furthermore, the engagement and contribution from participants at the five partner Circle U. institutions will represent a diverse and multilingual consortium which will be reflected in the co-creation process and end product.
Dr. Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska, Special consultant, Faculty of Arts, School of Communication and Culture
The Aarhus team (as the lead university) and teams from partner universities are currently forming.
The project is funded by Circle U.