Arqus works on a multilingualism module to be offered across all its universities

On 5^th and 6^th October 2023, the Arqus Plurilingual and Multicultural Hub members met at Vilnius University to plan their new Arqus Multilingualism Module. Professor Olaf Bärenfänger, Director of the Language Center at Leipzig University, took part in the meeting together with Alba Delgado, Kerstin Gackle and Irmgard Wanner. The event was hosted by Professor Roma Kriaučiūnienė, Nijolė Burkšaitienė, Orinta Gerikaitė and Eglė Žurauskaitė from Vilnius University.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the concept, content and implementation of the Arqus Multilingualism Module, which will be open to students at all Arqus Universities. The Arqus Plurilingual and Multicultural Hub team plans to develop, pilot and put this module into practice by 2026.

The meeting was opened by the Pro-Rector for Studies, Dr. Valdas Jaskūnas, the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Professor Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, and Vilnius Arqus Officer, Dr. Julija Savickė.

The first day was devoted to discussing various aspects of the Arqus Multilingualism Module and then to developing a basic structure and content for the module. In addition, there were meetings with a number of stakeholder groups.  

The meeting with colleagues from the Institute of Educational Sciences in the Faculty of Philosophy, Professor R. Želvys and Dr Sandra Kairė from Vilnius University and Dr Makhabbat Kenzhegaliyeva from the Faculty of Education at Leipzig University was very fruitful as the professors shared their experience of developing a joint module for teacher training students titled “Schools around the World”. Many of their insights turned out to be applicable to the development of the Arqus Mutilingualism Module. Some ideas for further collaboration in piloting the modules were also addressed.

During the next meeting with colleagues from Vilnius University, the Arqus Learning Pathways representative, Lina Malaiškaitė, the Vilnius Arqus Officer, Julija Savicke, who is also head of the Study, Quality and Development Department at Vilnius University, and the Arqus Teaching Innovation member, Andrius Uždanavičius, the focus was on ways the three Arqus initiatives could collaborate throughout the process of developing and implementing the Arqus Multilingualism Module. Many suggestions related to the accreditation of the modules and the procedure for its implementation were given.

On the second day, the Arqus Multilingualism Module was presented to the Network of Language Centre Directors and the Arqus Plurilingual and Multicultural Hub board members. Both groups gave positive feedback and provided some additional ideas for the structure, content and development of the module. The plan is for the Module to be accredited by Vilnius University and approved and acknowledged by the other Arqus universities.