The aim of the European Higher Education Area as a European institution is based on three key questions: the Europe of citizens, the Europe of knowledge, and the Europe of languages.
Within this context, it is befitting that we should preserve and reinforce the linguistic and cultural richness of the various nations that occupy this space. Since the publication of the White Paper on Education and Learning in 1995, European institutions have suggested that their member states establish policies to guarantee competence in at least two foreign languages in addition to the mother tongue (the 1+2 formula).
UPF's strategy towards multilingualism recognises the importance of the other official languages in Spain, the importance of English as an international language, of French as a neighbouring language with a long-standing tradition in Spain, as well as of German, Italian and other European language and of the native languages of all those who visit our community.
In the context of European convergence and the move toward multilingualism, UPF as a whole and its various areas collaborate with the following institutions, among others, all considered leading institutions within their respective fields:
The Linguistic Policy Division of the European Council, with headquarters in Strasbourg, is in charge of implementing initiatives for the development and analysis of linguistic policies in the field of education, which aim to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism.
The European Language Portfolio is a document in which people who are learning or have learned a language —whether at school or otherwise— can record and reflect on their language learning and cultural experience.
The Instituto Cervantes is a public cultural institution created in 1991, which depends on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and whose mission is to promote and teach the Spanish language and to disseminate Spanish and Latin American culture.
The British Institute, the seat of the British Council in Barcelona, is the principal contact point with the United Kingdom in the field of arts and information services in Catalonia. This centre organises exhibits, seminars and other cultural activities on a regular basis in order to disseminate the English language and culture.
The French Institute of Barcelona is a cultural institution which organises all kinds of cultural activities and French language courses and provides information on France, its language and its culture.
The Goethe Institute is a German cultural institution whose goal is to promote the study of the German language among foreigners and international cultural exchanges as well as to provide cultural, social and political information on Germany.
The Italian Institute of Culture, an official Italian institution, strives to foster and promote the Italian language and culture abroad by organising cultural events to favour the exchange of ideas, the arts and science.