Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning

Alex Riemersma www.mercator-research.eu

26 August 2008

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Outline

1.Mercator team2.Mercator’s history3.European perspective4.Mercator’s current position 5.Research 6.Networking activities 7.Mercator’s ambitions

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Mercator team

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Mercator’s history

• Mercator Education (1987-2006):EU project

• EU programme and earmarked budget

• Information and data collection on education in / about regional and minority languages in EU

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Mercator’s results

• Data collection• Data base of experts• Network of Schools• Regional Dossier Series

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Regional Dossiers

• Series > 40

• Update every 5 year

• Online available

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European perspective (1)

• Fryslân not unique in Europe

• All European countries are multilingual

• Fryslân is in the heart of Europe

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European perspective (2)

• More than 60 % of EU citizens use more languages in daily life

• 10 % of European citizens speak a minority language

• Let us not reinvent the wheel !

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Mercator’s current position (1)

• Broadened scope: EU + CoE• RMLs + immigrant languages +

smaller state languages• Research activities• Partner in various European

Networks

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Mercator’s current position (2)

• European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning

• Spearhead of the Fryske Akademy• Bilingual Fryslân• Leeuwarden “hotspot of

knowledge”

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Research

• Creating knowledge: language transmissionadded value

• Applying research results:Minimum Standards based on the CEFR

• Regional Dossiers Series

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Mercator’s financial position

• 1987-2006: 80% European Union / 20% Fryske Akademy

• 2007: Province of Fryslân &Basque Country

• 2008: Province of Fryslân; Basque Country; City of Leeuwarden & EU

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Mercator’s finances 2009-2012

• Province of Fryslân:€ 200.000

• City of Leeuwarden:€ 200.000

• Basque Country:€ 140.000

• European Union (Lifelong Learning):• € 60.000

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Networking activities

• Network of Schools & Teacher Training Institutes

• Mercator Network• Network to Promote Linguistic

Diversity• EUNoM

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Mercator Network

• Lead partner: Fryske Akademy – Mercator Research Centre

• Aberystwyth – University of Wales• Barcelona – Ciemen• Budapest – Hungarian Academy of

Sciences• Eskilstuna – Mälardalen University

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Foto fan bern

• Leafst bern yn de klasse

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Mercator’s ambitions

• Development of research activities:- creating knowledge; - sharing and disseminating;- application of research results

• Focus on Fryslân and Europe (EU & CoE)

• New partners: NPLD & EUNoM, ECML & ECMI

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Mercator’s ambitions

• Fryslân: International “knowledge hotspot” Multilingualism & Language Learning

• Mercator: European Agency on Multilingualism & Language Learning

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