23 April 2001
LANGUAGE LEARNING AIDS CAREER PROSPECTS – FARREN
"Competency in more than one language can help people’s career prospects in today’s global economy," the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, Dr Sean Farren, said as he addressed a major conference celebrating European Year of Languages 2001.
Organised by the Association of University Language Centres, delegates from across the United Kingdom and Ireland attended the prestigious conference at Queen’s University Belfast.
Continuing his address Minister Farren said: "Competency in several languages is increasingly important in the modern world. It helps businesses to benefit from the many opportunities for trade available to them in the single European market.
"Beyond that, easier travel and the development of different means of electronic communication have made world markets more accessible and the ability to communicate in a language familiar to potential customers improves a company’s competitiveness."
The Minister continued: "Attaining a second language enhances an individual’s employability, which increases his or her mobility and can lead to a much higher level of job satisfaction.
"The European Year of Languages will provide a valuable opportunity to raise awareness, across the education sector and wider community and prepare individuals for living in this increasingly global economy."
The Minister concluded by saying: "I would like to wish the Association of University Language Centres a successful conference and urge others to join them in taking forward language learning."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Association of University Language Centres in the UK and Ireland was established two years ago. Its specific aims and objectives are:
- to hold regular meetings with its members to facilitate discussion and exchange information on the diverse activities of university language centres.
- to facilitate contracts with university centres internationally and to promote university language centres both within and outside the university community.
- To monitor emerging national and international language standards and develop appropriate quality assurance mechanisms.
- The European Year of Languages is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe.
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