Modern language degrees: Future perspectives Michael Kelly Berlin, 28 November 2013
2 Language degrees Philology / language and literature Applied languages / language and society Translation and interpreting Language teacher education
3 Need for language degrees Historically – elite education –Liberal arts education –Academic teaching of language and culture –Vocational language teaching –Language professions – translation and interpreting
4 Need for language degrees Currently – socially inclusive education –Prepare international career –Language professions – translation and interpreting –International teaching of language and culture –Cultural mediators (more research needed)
5 Current social context Economic crisis –Public funding, Jobs, Growth Transnational migration Internationalisation of higher education
6 Responding to new needs Adapt existing programmes to new needs Develop new programmes Develop new modes of delivery Innovate or die (by decree or attrition)
7 Where will new programmes come from? Academics? Institutional managers? Policy makers? Institutional initiatives? National or international collaboration?