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Language policies in the context of German higher education

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the growing impact of English in German higher education. The analysis addresses the issues of higher education policy and practice, focusing on the discrepancies across these areas with respect to English use. The first part of the paper examines policy initiatives on the European Union (EU), federal, and institutional levels that reveal the lack of an explicit language policy. This is contrasted with an analysis of administrative measures that in fact are paving the way for the expanded functional range for English, such as the establishment of new degree programs specifically designated as auslandsorientiert or internationally oriented. The examination includes a closer look at the impact of English at one German institution, the Freie Universität Berlin (FUB). Finally, the paper addresses some of the political, financial and educational issues to be considered as a consequence of the expanding role of English in higher education.

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Abbreviations

BMBF:

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (German Federal Ministry for Education and Research)

CRIS:

Center for Research on Innovation & Society

Erasmus:

the European Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students

DAAD:

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)

EU:

European Union

DPI:

Degree Program Information

ECTS:

European Credit Transfer System

EU:

European Union

FUB:

Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin)

HRK:

Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (German Rectors’ Conference)

MPE:

Master Programs in English

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Claus Gnutzmann, Ragnhild Ljosland, Tom Bartlett and our three anonymous reviewers for their perceptive and helpful readings of various versions of this paper. A special thanks also goes to the two editors of this special journal issue, Clare Mar-Molinero and Patrick Stevenson, for their dedicated efforts in editing and preparing this issue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Language Centre, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdterallee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Elizabeth J. Erling

  2. Department of German & Slavic Studies, Wayne State University, 906 West Warren Ave., 443 Manoogian Hall, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Suzanne K. Hilgendorf

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  1. Elizabeth J. Erling
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Correspondence to Elizabeth J. Erling.

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Erling, E.J., Hilgendorf, S.K. Language policies in the context of German higher education. Lang Policy 5, 267–293 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-006-9026-3

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