The Ģֱ no longer to offer basic and intermediate studies in Spanish language in the future
The popularity of Spanish as an A2 language in comprehensive school is not reflected in the interest to study Spanish further at the basic and intermediate levels at the Ģֱ. The number of students and ECTS credits completed has been on the decline for several years. The interest also of the subject teacher students in languages to acquire a qualification in Spanish is low. In recent years, less than three students on average have completed intermediate studies in Spanish each year. Together with pedagogical studies, these studies have been required to be given the qualification of a teacher of Spanish.
The rational use of resources and the number of students interested in the field must be taken into account when training is organised.
“As a university, we are committed to offering a wide selection of languages and providing high-quality language education,” says Dean Mika Lähteenmäki. “This requires a new approach to the ways in which language teaching can reasonably be carried out at university. Our university’s development of language education aims to transform language teaching and at the same time to profile us as a university that recognises the importance of language and cultural competence in academic expertise.”
The decision to cut Spanish studies is followed by a transition period, during which teaching is offered for the students to complete their studies. When deciding on the length of the transition period, the views of the students as well as the assessments of the teacher and education coordinator concerning the extent of teaching will be taken into account.
