Language debate in university council
Will the university council debate in English or Dutch (or both) next year? Since international fraction TiU International runs for seats in the council, this question quickly became a topic of discussion. Out of the eight people on TiU International’s list, six are foreign scientists and two are international-minded Dutchmen.
Initiators Tobial Klein and Frank de Jong say that the language question is up for discussion, and that they aim at a solution that suits all different parties. “When people really want to speak Dutch, we can use an interpreter. We expect the papers to be in English, though.” This would mean that the memo’s, plans and notes should be available more early, so that they can be translated. Eventually, the spoken language should be English. “In the strategic plan, the University states to aim at being international at all levels. If this is the case, it should be implemented.”
According to Klein, there has been contact with current employee fractions Abvakabo and Onafhankelijken. The two parties weren’t ready for adding internationals on their list at the moment. Marinus Verhagen from Abvakabo: “I’ve spoken to one TiSEM employee, who ended up on the list of TiU International. The profile of the candidate didn’t match our desired profile. That’s why he’s not on our list.”
About the spoken language in the council, Verhagen says: “We feel that the council elections should not be used as a crowbar to enforce the implementation of English as our spoken language. We prefer a bilingual university, where every member of the university council speaks one language actively and the other one passively. A foreign member can speak English, but listen to Dutch arguments and read the Dutch papers. This also works the other way around.”
Tjits Roselaar from Onafhankelijken also reacts to the news: “We haven’t spoken to anyone from TiU international. The council clerk told us that there was a third party running for the council. We strive for bilingualism, you can’t just drop a new language in the council. The discussion comes with the Strategic Plan and we still have to determine the policy. It is really one-sided to found a fraction on this subject, when the policy still has to be discussed. You have to tackle internationalization as a whole.”
TiU is not the only university where language is part of a discussion. In Rotterdam, there are two international members of the university council, a student and an employee. In the past, there was a simultaneous interpreter and after that, the university ran a test with speaking English in the meetings. This was no succes, so the test won’t be carried on. The council members didn’t feel comfortable in English and were less able to apply nuance in their speeches.
At the Tilburgian faculty councils, there have been international members in the past. At TiSEM, the meetings have been in English for a while, but that council has switched back to Dutch. At Law School, one of the employers in the council spoke English, but understood Dutch.
