Julio Gimenez; Katherine (Katie) Mansfield, Senior Lecturer

28/11/2024

Did you know that in 2021/22, there were 350,325 international students pursuing degrees in the UK according to the Higher Education Student Statistics (HESA)? Surprisingly, international students represented 22% of the total student population in the whole country (Universities UK).

These statistics, provided by HESA, offer valuable insights into the demographics of our universities. However, there’s a noticeable gap in information regarding the languages spoken by international students. Given the key role that languages play in both academic and social spheres, this oversight is striking.

To address this gap, a team of researchers [Terry Lamb, Julio Gimenez, Katherine Mansfield, Lucia Llano Puertas, Alexandra Rappoport, Margherita Sprio, Martin Percy and Daphne Vallas] at the University of Westminster initiated the Multilingual University project. The primary objective was to identify the languages spoken within our institution, laying the groundwork for celebrating our multilingual community.

The first phase of the project involved designing and distributing a university-wide survey to document the languages spoken by members of the University. 627 individuals participated, comprising 64% students, 22% academic colleagues, and 10% professional services colleagues.

Preliminary results from the survey revealed a rich linguistic tapestry, with respondents reporting proficiency in 133 languages and 61 language varieties. These findings underscore the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the diverse linguistic landscape of our university, both academically and socially.

In January 2024, the Multilingual University Support Group organised a special event to present the survey findings and celebrate multilingualism at Westminster [Pic 1]. Attendees were treated to a diverse program, including interactive sessions that allowed participants to visualise their multilingual repertoires. [Pic 2]

Additionally, findings from a research study involving 84 undergraduate and postgraduate students were presented. The study explored language usage at the university, revealing insights into students’ comfort levels with different languages. While some students expressed ease in using their primary language, the majority cited English as a unifying force, promoting inclusivity within the community. Video

Looking ahead, the Multilingual University Support Group remains committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity on campus. Currently, we are collaborating on a project with international students to redesign campus signage. This initiative aims to incorporate select phrases from our Being Westminster 2022-2029 strategy in numerous languages, fostering a deeper sense of belonging among Westminster students. Will this initiative be the key to fostering inclusivity? We look forward to finding out in September 2024!

References:

Intro Picture (AI-generated image, source: Midjourney.ai/dragonidie)

Author Bios:

Julio Gimenez is a Principal Lecturer at the Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation (CETI) University of Westminster. He is part of the university’s Multilingual University steering group, and his research and publications focus on academic literacies, plurilingualism in higher education, and critical pedagogies for plurilingual sustainability. 

Katherine (Katie) Mansfield, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster, leads undergraduate and postgraduate Academic English modules.  She actively contributes to the university’s Multilingual University steering group, advocating for equality and inclusion among multilingual students. Her research interests encompass social justice, international student acculturation, ipsative feedback and bi/multilingualism.