Publication details
Indigenous heritage, war refugees or language for academic purposes: Exploring language centres´ social justice and vulnerable communities empowerment potential
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Paper in proceedings |
| Conference | Education and/for Social Justice |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.scuolademocratica-conference.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/III-SD-Conf.-Proceedings.-Vol.-1.-Inequality-Inclusion-and-Governance.pdf |
| Keywords | Language Centre; Third Mission; inclusivity |
| Description | Universities are adapting to significant changes driven by globalization, knowledge economies, and environmental challenges. So are Language Centres (LC) with their traditional focus on language education. LCs now address broader institutional objectives, including internationalization, intercultural awareness, democratization, and inclusivity. These expanded responsibilities align with the Third Mission of universities, a commitment to societal contribution, encompassing social, economic, and cultural development. The Masaryk University’s Language Centre (CJV) is presented as an example of the new role of LCs. These evolving roles include offering courses in underrepresented languages, integrating international teaching assistants, and linking university students with local communities. A notable recent Third Mission activity, the EPSULA Project, aims at preserving the linguistic heritage of indigenous Latin American communities through technology and education. The CJV’s response to crises shows potential of LCs´ societal impact. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the centre swiftly organized intensive Czech language courses for Ukrainian refugees, enabling over 480 students to integrate into Czech university programmes. This effort highlighted the CJV’s adaptability and its capacity to foster inclusivity through comprehensive linguistic and cultural support. The example of CJV demonstrates how innovation and commitment can transform language centres into agents of positive global change. |