Language policy

Summary
This page describes Fontys ICT's language policy, using the legal basis and Fontys code of conduct as a basis, but also in relation to internationalisation. It explains the basic principles, the working language and the language skills of staff and students. Finally, language policy is important in relation to training for an international context and cooperation with companies and colleges abroad. ¹⁾.

At Fontys ICT, with its broad curriculum and diverse population and its ambitions with regard to internationalisation (both within and outside the curriculum) Dutch can not longer be the official language. Ambitions are aimed at preparing students for an international context, realising Intercultural awareness, partly by means of globalisation at home, and providing appropriate education for every Dutch and international student. This movement calls for a language policy.

Article 7.2 of the Dutch Higher Education and Scientific Research Act (WHW) describes the language in which higher education must be offered:

Teaching is given and examinations are taken in Dutch. In deviation the first sentence, another language may be used:
a. if it concerns a study programme in that language;
b. in the case of education given by a foreign-language lecturer in the context of a guest lecture, or;
c. if the specific nature, the organisation or the quality of the education or the origin of the students so requires, in accordance with a code of conduct established by the Executive Board.

The above legal text, and specifically the last part of it, allows Fontys ICT to offer education (also) in English. In doing so, Fontys ICT must comply with the Fontys code of conduct.

The WHW (HRA) refers to a code of conduct adopted by the institutional board. Within Fontys, this code of conduct for education in a foreign language applies.

The work field in the internationally oriented regions of the south of the Netherlands calls for so many new ICT professionals that we cannot meet this demand by training only Dutch students. That is why Fontys ICT also focuses internationally on students who want to follow a HBO-ICT study programme here and want to continue working here in the South of the Netherlands after their studies. Within Fontys ICT, Dutch students participate together with international students in the same learning environment and work together as in the business world. This method of 'globalisation at home' fits in well with the international nature of the study programme using the English language as a means of communication. The work field and the business world where our students end up after their studies is international, and here too the English language is the means of communication. Of course, our students are prepared for this professional context.

Fontys ICT offers both Dutch- and English-language education.
In Tilburg, the language of instruction is Dutch. In Eindhoven, education is bilingual. Dutch and English are offered separately in the propaedeutic phase. After the propaedeutic phase, education is in English if necessary and in Dutch if possible.

After the propaedeutic year, the study materials in both Tilburg and Eindhoven are in English.

In Studielink, courses are registered as follows:

• Associate degree AD-ICT is in Dutch.
• Bachelor ICT is:
  • Dutch-language at teaching location Tilburg;
  • Dutch-language in the part-time variant;
  • English-language at the full-time programme in teaching location Eindhoven;

Semester 1 and 2 of the bachelor's full-time study programme in Eindhoven is taught in the demand-based teaching method in Dutch;

• Master Applied IT is in English.

The language of instruction applies primarily to study and information materials. For the English-language variants, the language spoken on the floor depends on the lecturer or student population. That is, with a non-Dutch-speaking student or lecturer, English is spoken. We give students formative input to improve their language skills. And we offer our students the opportunity to attend training/workshops to strengthen their English or Dutch language skills. In the English-language curriculum, we offer students an introduction to Dutch Language and Culture.

Institute-wide communication channels such as the Fontys ICT Update, Policy Wiki, policy documents and emails to a multilingual group are bilingual. Organisational meetings with international staff or students are in English or bilingual.

We expect our Teaching Staff (OP) to all be able to teach in English. Support Staff (OOP) will eventually be expected to be able to communicate in English. Upon request, facilities can be used to improve English language skills through training/workshops. Non-Dutch-speaking employees are expected to be proficient in English. They need not be able to communicate in Dutch. It is desirable for international colleagues to be able to understand their Dutch colleagues (listening skills). Dutch-language training/workshops are offered and can be followed on request. Bilingualism may be required to fulfill specific roles within the organization. Where appropriate, recruitment for this role will explicitly state why bilingualism is a requirement in that case.

Employees own their own appropriate professional actions and associated professionalisation as described on the professionalisation page.

Suggestions for development English:

1. Una paloma blanca, Eindhoven. Recommended: Duo courses or Private lessons; can be arranged online;
2. Fontys Crash Course English;
3. 3. Then possibly: Cursus Engels | Language Institute Regina Coeli (intensive, pricey; good quality);
4. Lecturers - Hogeschooltaal.

Suggestions for development Dutch:

1. Una paloma blanca, Eindhoven. Recommended are: Duo courses or Private lessons; can be arranged online;
2. 2. Then possibly: Cursus Nederlands | Taleninstituut Regina Coeli (intensive, pricey, good quality);
3. Lecturers - Hogeschooltaal.

Students are expected to be proficient in English. Students taking education in Dutch (e.g. Associate degree or Education for Professionals - OvP) must be able to communicate in Dutch. Students taking education in English are expected to be proficient in English.

Concrete frameworks for students:

• Semesters 3 to 8 in Eindhoven are mostly offered in (internationally) mixed groups and therefore the language of instruction is English. If only Dutch speakers are involved, Dutch can of course be used as the language of instruction (oral and written);
• For internships and graduation, a student may choose whether presentations are given in Dutch or English. Fontys ICT provides Dutch-speaking assessors for Dutch-language presentations;
• The diplomas for the Bachelor and Master programmes are in English. The diploma for the Associate degree programme is in Dutch.

Within the curriculum, we offer all students training in intercultural competences. We offer international students an introduction to Dutch language and culture at the start of their studies.
There are also offers for students who need training in English or Dutch. For writing, all resources that can help students are listed in the Canvas course Writing support. For example, this Canvas course offers the Toolbox language for Dutch writing. For writing in English, this Canvas course refers to Grammarly as an excellent (free) resource to check grammar and spelling.
Students who need additional support after studying the Canvas course can contact Student+.

To realise the above policy in practice, the following steps are taken towards implementation as shown in Table 1.

Tabel 1
Overview of steps and ownership for language policy implementation Fontys ICT.

In order to implement and qualitatively secure the use of the English language within Fontys ICT, this paragraph explains which translation options for texts and materials (Dutch → English) are available within Fontys ICT. We also indicate our preference for (commissioning) translations so that the quality of the translation meets Fontys ICT's standards. We aim to combine customer-friendliness towards each other with the highest possible quality of the translation. As is the agreement within Fontys, Fontys ICT uses British English as its preferred language.

If you want to translate your texts yourself and want to use a(n) (online) translation tool, we recommend the use of DEEPL -Translator. This free tool:

• Provides a quick basic translation of texts, up to a fixed maximum number of characters;²⁾
• Delivers excellent quality basic British English;
• Is always available and directly applicable for every colleague (and student);
• Can automatically translate texts or documents (Word, PowerPoint or TXT) while retaining formatting;
• Offers the option, while working with Windows, to automatically translate (pieces of) text in documents through the DEEPL app.

Unfortunately, this online tool cannot (yet) handle the many Fontys ICT terms that we use. The unambiguous use of these terms, both in Dutch and in English, is important to avoid misunderstandings in communication and mutual expectations. Therefore a Fontys ICT Terminology File is available on which all these word pairs can be found. If you are translating your own texts, it is important to screen these texts for the correct use of words and concepts.

If the translation work is schedulable, then the translation work can be offered to FontysICT's translation service at the e-mail address fontysict-vertalen@fontys.nl. The translation service will then take over the translation of the documents from you. The work is then translated either internally or externally. This choice depends on the volume, time constraints and quality requirements of the translation work. Based on the specific request, the colleague(s) from the translation service will choose the most suitable translation option and deliver it. Please note that translation through the translation service can have a turnaround time of up to 3 weeks.

In case of internal processing, the assignment will be processed by the wiki editors, who will use translation tool DeepL. This tool creates translations using specific terminology files from Fontys ICT. For example, the Policy Wiki has been translated using this software. The quality of these translations is good, but translation capacity is limited. For this reason, additional use will regularly be made of a selected translation agency.

The advantage of using external translators is that this does not put an extra workload on our own colleagues. In the case of large quantities, the work can also be spread over several translators, thereby reducing the turnaround time. Of course, this involves costs (on average 0.10 to 0.25 per word). Past experience has shown that the work delivered by translation agencies is not always of the desired quality. Therefore we are looking for a relationship with a fixed agency where quality is guaranteed. Without specific prior agreements with the agency on language use, a retrospective check on the proper use of Fontys ICT terms will always be necessary. We are currently working with a translation agency that works on the basis of the Fontys ICT Terminology File.