Lack of language skills in UK graduates means they are
hampered when trying to find international graduate
jobs
Graduates from UK universities are losing out
on the top international positions because they are unable to speak
a second language according to academics and business leaders.
There are serious concerns about the lack of
language skills in UK graduates, which was raised at a policy meeting
at the Houses of Parliament on 19th October. They
discussed the fact that the current education system is not doing
enough to encourage graduates to study languages. Yet many
countries within the European Union are expected to speak several
languages regardless of what they are studying.
"No university should be producing graduates who cannot function
at a basic level in another language," said Baroness Coussins,
chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages,
after the event, which was organised by the Industry and Parliament
Trust.
"There is a feeling that 'English is enough' because it is
spoken everywhere, but this is not true," she said. "Businesses are
not looking for people who are fluent, but those who can do basic
conversation and break the ice. It gives a good impression of that
company."
With graduates unable to speak languages other than English, it
is harming Britain’s economic competitiveness and University
leavers are failing to win top places at multinational
companies.
Tim Connell, former director of language studies at City
University London, said life skills gained by multilingual
graduates on year-abroad placements were also attractive to
employers.
Professor Connell, who is vice-president of the Chartered
Institute of Linguists, commented that "Students have to be so
adaptable because the skill sets required by businesses are
changing so quickly. What you learn in your degree is normally out
of date within five years, so what students carry with them are
their skills. I think higher education is very modest about the
transferable skills that it gives to students."
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