Une université italienne va abandonner l'italien pour enseigner en l'anglais

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Italian university teaches in English.

An Italian university has decided to teach its courses in English in order to compete with global institutions.
 
Most courses at the Politecnico di Milano, one of Italy’s top universities, will be taught and assessed entirely in English from 2014.

 “We strongly believe our classes should be international classes – and the only way to have international classes is to use the English language,” the university’s rector, Giovanni Azzone, told the press.

He added: “Universities are in a more competitive world, if you want to stay with the other global universities – you have no other choice.”

Azzone predicts that other universities in Italy will follow suit because English has become the language of higher education and research. “I would have preferred if Italian was the common language, it would have been easier for me – but we have to accept real life,” he said.
 
Azzone believes that his students will be more employable if they have a good level of English.

Another reason for the switch to English is the need to attract overseas students and researchers – Italian can be a barrier for overseas students.

However, not everyone is happy with the plan. Some 300 professors are organising a protest petition.

By Beckyl