The University of Southern Denmark is an internationally oriented university that wishes to attract and retain staff and students from Denmark and abroad. The following general internationalisation objectives are laid down in the paper "Strategy Statement for the University of Southern Denmark – on course for 2020".
SDU is a university with strong international working partnerships and with students and staff from the all over the world. The university will extend this already high level of internationalization by ensuring that larger numbers of students and staff spend time abroad and develop competences that will make them even more valuable both for their academic profession and for society’s international competitive potential. And the university aims to attract more students and researchers from abroad. This means that is important that all the university’s staff and students have the skills necessary to handle cultural and linguistic diversity.
The University of Southern Denmark will operate on the basis of the following concrete initiatives and actions:
Initiative: An international study environment
Actions
- To integrate periods of study abroad into curricula
- To create a framework for foreign students that provides attractive conditions for study
- To increase the number of bachelor and master’s degrees taught in English
Initiative: An international workplace
Actions
- To increase the recruitment of international staff
- To offer opportunities for developing language skills
- To increase collaboration with selected foreign universities
Based on these factors, the University of Southern Denmark has prepared the following policy for the use of Danish and English as working languages, which complies with the linguistic demands that the university’s staff and students encounter today.
Policy for the use of Danish and English as working languages
- The official language at the university is Danish. Danish is used internally and externally in managerial and administrative contexts. English can be used in parallel with Danish where relevant.
- Other languages can be used in academic contexts where relevant.
- To ensure that everybody can communicate in as many situations as possible, staff and students who do not master Danish must have the opportunity to speak English where relevant.
- This requires that the university's Danish staff and students master the English language at a level that allows them, when appropriate, to communicate in English with foreign students and staff.
- It also requires foreign staff and students who take part as members of SDU’s governing bodies, including the Board of Governors, academic study boards and committees, to master the Danish language at a level that allows them to read and understand materials used at meetings.
- All international members of staff in permanent positions are obliged to participate actively in Danish language classes. Within a period of five years from their date of permanent employment, these members of staff are expected to acquire Danish language skills equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This level equals approx. 3½ years of teaching, thus allowing for a pause of up to 1½ years. The deans may under special circumstances grant a partial or complete exemption from the requirement, including time frame and level.
- As a general rule SDU’s homepage should be available in both Danish and English. In cases where information is not relevant to particular groups of Danish- or English-speaking staff and students, exceptions may be made, as long as a brief description of contents permits reference to the ‘master’ page in either English or Danish, where the information is to be found.
- Important general information such as sub-policies, personnel policy, strategy documents, labelling and signposting should be communicated in both Danish and English (for example, for ØSS, TEM, Pure)
- Since SDU offers a large number of master’s degrees, bachelor degrees and course elements taught in English, particular attention will be paid to ensuring that the academic level does not decrease as a result of choice of language (see ‘Linguistic requirements’ section).
- As a point of departure, a programme taught in a foreign language will be in the target language. However, exceptions can be made, if considered appropriate.
- Examination certificates will be issued in Danish and English and all students will receive a Diploma Supplement in English together with their examination certificate.
- Danish and foreign academic staff are expected to attend the necessary qualifying English and Danish courses. This will ensure that both Danish and foreign teachers will at all times possess the linguistic competences needed to teach the various programmes.
- The university offers academic staff courses in academic English under the Central Programme Committee (CUU). Qualifying Danish courses are also offered under CUU.
- In order to ensure the quality of teaching in English, the university will perform a professional accreditation of teachers' English skills.
- It is an aim of the university to strengthen students' foreign language competences.
- Clear admission requirements are defined for the students’ linguistic level both in Danish and English, as they are for other relevant foreign languages.
- The university's foreign students are encouraged to attend Danish courses as and when they are offered.
- SDU’s aim is to make the university’s research accessible for the largest possible target group, both national and international. Dissemination will take place in the language relevant to the target group.
- Research results will be published internationally and in the language that is relevant to the research area or to the target group to which they are addressed.
- In all publications the university’s official name must be given either in Danish or in English. In addition, SDU’s name can be added in other languages, where this is felt to be relevant.
- The university's administrative staff must be able to communicate appropriately in English with students and staff. Staff are expected to attend the necessary qualifying language courses.
- The university offers administrative staff targeted language courses.
- The university will make linguistic competences a requirement in recruiting new staff.
Language requirements and the division of responsibility
- Lays down the underlying guidelines and aims for the university’s “Policy for the use of Danish and English as working languages”.
- Ensures that there are regular checks on the implementation of the language policy.
- Ensures that relevant and targeted initiatives are established in English for Danish researchers, teachers and administrative employees – or for foreign staff with similar needs. This is intended to ensure that Danes or foreign employees at the university are given the skills necessary to fulfil their everyday functions at SDU.
- Ensures that relevant and targeted initiatives are established in Danish for foreign researchers, teachers and administrative employees. This is intended to ensure that foreign staff are given the skills necessary to fulfil their everyday functions at SDU.
- Are responsible for the formulation of guidelines regarding which language may be used by students and (external) examiners at both oral and written examinations.
- Are responsible for ensuring that the language levels required of staff in both Danish and English are made clear.
- Are responsible for ensuring that all units make it clear which situations will require Danish and which English – both oral and written – so it is clear to everyone which language is to be used, where and when.
- Are responsible for the publication in English (or another foreign language) of research results and academic articles. The language used is chosen with a view to the target group and the tradition of the research area.
- Are responsible for each unit finding an appropriate balance between Danish and English in its overall internal and external communication.
- Are responsible for individual administrative units communicating to relevant users orally and in writing in Danish or English respectively, depending on the recipient.
- Place focus on the teachers’ skills in bi- or multilingual teaching and offer teachers additional qualifications and skills development in this area.
- Are responsible for all employees being offered relevant and qualifying language courses. Linguistic requirements and skills development should be discussed and planned in conjunction with employee development interviews (MUS).
- Are responsible for ensuring that foreign teachers, researchers and students are not excluded from everyday life at SDU due to their lack of linguistic skills in the Danish language.
SDU in other languages
- The university's official name is the University of Southern Denmark – abbreviated SDU
- The English name of the university is the University of Southern Denmark
- If it is considered relevant, University of Southern Denmark can be translated into the following three languages as:
- German: Süddänische Universität
- French: Université Danemark Sud
- Spanish: Universidad del Sur-Dinamarca
- The abbreviated name is not normally used in foreign languages, but SDU is used where this is necessary.