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General aims
and objectives of TNP 2
The principal aim
of TNP 2 is to develop concrete proposals for improvements and innovations
in higher education programmes and learning modes in the area of
languages and to develop strategies and instruments designed to
bring about large-scale implementation of the proposals. The proposals
will focus on the following three themes:
-
curriculum innovation (particularly regarding first-degree and
continuing education programmes)
- new
learning environments - the European learning space
-
quality enhancement in language studies
These themes will
be underpinned by three horizontal issues:
- universities
as actors in life-long learning
- the relevance
of language studies to professional life
- the European
dimension
Theme-specific
aims and objectives of TNP 2
Under the three
themes indicated above, TNP 2 will pursue the following aims and
objectives:
Curriculum innovation
- identification
of changes in the social, political, professional and economic
environments and in the educational systems relevant to HE language
studies and reflection on the demands on HE language studies resulting
from these changes;
- description and
analysis of the status quo of the whole range of language-related
programmes (objectives, content, modes of delivery, structures)
in all the participating countries against the background of the
changes and demands identified; in particular, identification
of examples of innovative programmes designed to respond to changing
needs;
- reflection on
the education of language specialists such as teachers and translators/
interpreters within the general context of language studies;
- consideration
of the issue of life-long learning, both in relation to first-degree
programmes and to continuing education (cf. training modules for
professional people);
- needs analysis
and production of initial recommendations regarding higher education
language studies;
- discussion of
results of needs analysis and of initial recommendations with
target-group representatives;
- production of
final recommendations for curriculum innovation, underpinned by
examples of good practice and by proposals for joint curriculum
development, with particular emphasis on the European dimension
as regards needs, course content and objectives, and curriculum
adaptation and development.
New learning
environments - the European learning space
In general terms,
TNP 2 will seek to work towards a break-through in language learning
in higher education - as regards number of learners, range of languages,
and learning modes. Among the aims and objectives under this theme
are:
- exploration of
the potential of new learning environments, in particular of ICT,
for the learning of the less widely used and less taught languages,
for developing self-learning abilities, and for achieving multilingual
competence;
- identification,
description, and assessment of new and promising developments
at institutional level in the participating countries;
- identification
of elements essential to a successful use of new learning environments
for language learning;
NB. The above issues
will be considered against the background of a changing constitution
of the learning body.
- identification
of pertinent developments in (private) institutions of adult education
and in language units of international corporations;
- reflection on
the issue of the assessment and certification of language proficiency
acquired through independent learning and on the role ICT can
play in assessment and certification.
In addition, TNP
2 is to explore ways of integrating new learning environments into
language study programmes - from the point of view of course objectives
and course content, of new learning modes, of the requirements in
continuing education, and of European co-operation - by describing
and analysing the use of new learning environments for the said
purposes at national and at European level. Ultimately, TNP 2 is
to
- promote awareness
of good practice in the use of new learning environments for language
learning, for the acquisition of knowledge, for life-long learning,
and for European co-operation in the delivery of programmes;
- initiate European
co-operation, specifically in the fields of staff development,
materials development, curriculum development, and action research.
Quality enhancement
in language studies
- identification
of factors relevant to quality enhancement in language studies;
- description and
analysis, for the participating countries, of quality enhancement
measures applied at national, regional, institutional, and departmental
level to the extent that these are relevant to language studies;
- identification
of examples of good practice;
- development of
proposals for quality enhancement in language studies (expected
to be relevant to the work undertaken under the other two themes);
- production of
a report presenting a number of scenarios for quality enhancement
in language studies and of a dynamic Website;
- preparation of
project proposals dedicated to quality enhancement in language
studies;
- initiation of
a European project in this area.
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