The Rector of Leuven University (KUL) Luc Sels (photo, above) has called for the cap on the percentage of bachelor courses that Flemish universities are allowed to offer in languages other than Dutch to be raised to 18% by 2040. The Rector of Flanders’ largest and oldest university made his comment on Wednesday morning just ahead of the start of the new academic year. He proposes gradually raising the cap on bachelor courses taught through the medium of other languages than Dutch. Currently the cap on bachelor’s degree courses offered in languages other than Dutch is 9%
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Rector of Leuven University wants to double the number of courses offered in other languages
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Under Luc Sels’ proposals the cap would be raised by 3% per legislature, which in the case of the Flemish Parliament is a fixed term of 5 years. This means that the cap would be raised to 12% by 2029, 15% by 2034 and 18% by 2039. Although Rector Sels is in favour of increasing the percentage of bachelor courses offered in other languages, he says that students should always have the option of studying for their bachelor degree through the medium of Dutch if they so wish.
Meanwhile, Luc Sels is happy with the current cap of 35% on masters degree courses offered in other languages (de facto English). However, he says that this should be reevaluated every 5 years. He also proposes that in the courses offered through the medium of Dutch up 50% of the course should be able to be offered in an other language.
Rector Sels said "I am calling for further internationalisation and for international students and research to gain a more prominent place than is currently the case. I think this is a moderate plan that can facilitate dialogue between ourselves and the government”.
He hopes that the next Flemish Government will set up a taskforce made up of employers, universities and government representatives to discuss what he describes as a "contemporary language policy".