In accordance with the plan for the management of multilingualism in the classroom, UPF teaching staff must have an active knowledge of at least one of the University’s three working languages (Catalan, Spanish and English), and at least a passive knowledge of the other two.

Catalan

Decree 128/2010, of 14 September, on the accreditation of the knowledge of language(s) of the teaching staff at universities of the Catalan university system, provides that university professors must accredit a sufficient knowledge of Catalan, both insofar as oral expression and the written language, in accordance with the requirements of their academic duties.

In application of this decree, accreditation has been regulated at UPF by the Normativa relativa a l’acreditació del coneixement suficient del català del professorat (agreement of the Board of Governors of 19 October 2011) and the rector’s resolution of 7 May 2012, which establishes the means to accredit the sufficient knowledge of Catalan by UPF teaching staff and creates the Comissió avaluadora de sol·licituds d’acreditació de coneixement lingüístic del PDI.

Article 2. UPF Research and teaching staff (PDI) currently has two options available in order to accredit the sufficient knowledge of Catalan for teaching.

1. Through official accreditation

This is currently the preferred and most-recommended option. It consists of accrediting the knowledge of Catalan with an official certification, with international recognition and no expiration date.

In order to accredit the sufficient knowledge of Catalan, UPF PDI must submit an application through the corresponding form, where they will need to attach one of the following qualifications:

  1. The official C1-level Catalan certification, issued by the Generalitat de Catalunya, who is in charge of establishing the regulations regarding the evaluation and certification of the knowledge of Catalan.
  2. Any of the titles, diplomas and certificates that are considered equivalent to the C1-level certification issued by the Generalitat de Catalunya. These titles include those obtained by completing non-university regulated studies in Catalonia (secondary school, batxillerat or Superior grade formative courses), according to the current regulations. All the equivalent titles can be consulted in the document Diplomas equivalent to the Catalan proficiency certificates of the General Directorate for Language Policy of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
  3. C1-level certificates issued by UPF that are considered equivalent to the official C1-level certificate awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.

The Comissió avaluadora de sol·licituds d’acreditació de coneixement lingüístic del PDI is in charge of evaluating and approving, when appropriate, the applications that have been submitted. Idiomes UPF will inform UPF Servei de PDI of each of these applications and the information will be added to each PDI’s transcript.

Form

 

2. Through a certificate of sufficient linguistic knowledge for teaching issued by the university

This certificate is not equivalent to an official accreditation and will only be valid within the university. Therefore, this is not the preferred option.

It can be obtained in two different ways:

  1. By completing special training at UPF and passing an exam which evaluates all linguistic skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking) as well as communicative competence. Candidates will be expected to communicate in Catalan with fluency and correctness, both in spoken and written contexts. The training is meant to prepare students for the official C1-level exam.
  2. By passing a C1-level PDI-specific exam that UPF may provide punctually and when appropriate.

In order to apply for the certificate of sufficient linguistic knowledge for teaching issued by the university, PDI must submit and application through the corresponding form, where they will need to attach the documentation that proves that they have completed option (i) or (ii).

The Comissió avaluadora de sol·licituds d’acreditació de coneixement lingüístic del PDI is in charge of evaluating and approving, when appropriate, the applications that have been submitted. Idiomes UPF will inform UPF Servei de PDI of each of these applications and the information will be added to each PDI’s transcript.

Form

PDI who must accredit the sufficient knowledge of Catalan

  1. Permanent teaching staff who have taken their posts after 17 September 2010. Permanent teaching staff who have taken possession of their current position BEFORE 17 September 2010 do not have to accredit it. However, UPF recommends that all PDI does so, if they can already prove their knowledge of Catalan.
  2. Temporary teaching staff who, since 17/09/2010, have accumulated two years under a contract:
    • For teachers contracted on 17/09/2010, the calculation of the two years begins on that date. Their Catalan language level must be accredited for any contractual extensions signed after 18/09/2012 (assuming the teacher has been under contract throughout this period).
    • For teachers contracted after 17/09/2010, their Catalan language level must be accredited for contractual extensions after two years of contract.

PDI who do not need to accredit the sufficient knowledge of Catalan

* In accordance with Decree 128/2010 and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), lecturers who teach in third languages are not required to certify their knowledge of Catalan. However, if at any time they wish to teach in Catalan or in Spanish in the Catalan university system, they will need to certify it. They also need to have minimal knowledge of Catalan to properly communicate with their students. Therefore, UPF recommends that they start their language training so that they can reach level C1 in Catalan as soon as possible.

** In accordance with Decree 128/2010 and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), teachers who carry out research duties exclusively are not required to certify their proficiency in Catalan. However, they will need to certify their proficiency in Catalan if, at some point, they wish to teach in the Catalan university system in Catalan or Spanish.

*** In accordance with Decree 128/2010 and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), teachers who took up their position before 2010 are not required to certify their level of Catalan. However, if at any time you wish to take part in a contest for another position (for example, a tenured lecturer applying to become a full professor), you will have to provide proof. Therefore, we recommend that you start your language training so that you can reach level C1 in Catalan as soon as possible.

**** In accordance with Decree 128/2010, which provides for collaboration with teaching tasks by predoctoral research personnel in training, and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), hired predoctoral research fellows that have been assigned teaching tasks are not required to certify their proficiency in Catalan. However, they will need to certify their proficiency in Catalan if, having defended their thesis, they wish to teach in the Catalan university system. Therefore, UPF recommends that they begin their language training during their predoctoral contract so that they can reach level C1 in Catalan before defending their thesis.

  • Permanent teachers have the option of accrediting their knowledge of Catalan at the end of their tenure evaluation, or after two years. If this has not been done, accreditation must be attained as soon as possible.

  • Temporary teachers (lecturers and assistant lecturers) are exempt from accrediting their sufficient knowledge of Catalan for the first two years of their contracts. Any contractual extensions after the second year require prior accreditation of their Catalan level.

In the event of having sufficient knowledge but not having certification, PDI can take a specific proficiency level (C1) training programme.

  1. If you have advanced knowledge of Catalan, as a UPF PDI you are eligible to sit official CIFALC exams at UPF (level C1 or level C1 for PDI or level C2) at a cost of €120, which will allow you to gain official accreditation of your knowledge of Catalan.

  2. If you have advanced knowledge of Catalan, as a UPF PDI you may be interested in attending a free 3-hour information session about the official CIFALC level C1 exam at UPF.

  3. If you have advanced knowledge of Catalan but need specific training for level C1, as a UPF PDI you may be interested in taking a free 30-hour C1 level course and then sitting an official CIFALC exam at UPF (level C1 or level C1 for PDI) at a cost of €50 (reduced price due to not being an open exam but having attended a short training course).

In the event of neither teaching in nor having sufficient knowledge of Catalan, PDI can follow a specific training programme.

  1. If you do not have any prior knowledge of Catalan, you can take advantage of these training programmes to start your training on beginner Catalan language courses.
  2. If you have a basic knowledge of Catalan, you can take advantage of these training programmes to boost your learning of the Catalan language.
  3. If you have an intermediate knowledge of Catalan, you can take advantage of these training programmes to reach the level prior to the required level (C1 proficiency) of Catalan.
  1. I do not know if my certificate is one of the ones admitted as a document of proof of proficiency

    You will find the accepted certificates on the website: Titulacions equivalents als certificats de coneixements de català de la Secretaria de Política Lingüística.

  2. Can I fill in the form more than once if I have made a mistake when attaching a document?

    Yes, you can submit the form as many times as necessary until you have attached all the necessary documentation to be able to evaluate your request.

  3. I have submitted the form and I do not know if my application for equivalence of proficiency or my certification has been admitted.

    The evaluation committee is expected to meet every two months to assess all applications. Once the validation reports have been sent, teachers will be contacted to inform them of the decision taken regarding their application.

  4. Who should I contact if I have any doubts concerning the accreditation process?

    Since January 2022, an email address has been enabled ([email protected]) to clear up any doubts related to the form, the Catalan language training itineraries or the personal profile of each PDI.

  5. If I studied ESO/BUP (compulsory secondary education) and batxillerat/COU (upper/non-compulsory secondary education) in Catalonia (and I officially took Catalan language in all the aforementioned studies since the 1978-1979 academic year), do I have to submit any documents?

    According to the regulations set forth by the Secretaria de Política Lingüística de la Generalitat de Catalunya, interested parties must submit a certificate issued, at their request, by any public secondary school as established by the Direcció General d’Innovació. This document must be attached to the form. Proof of applying for the certificate/diploma or requesting the letter will not suffice.

  6. I sent the form without attaching the certificate or with the wrong certificate. Can I amend the error by sending the document to the accreditations email address?

    No. Documents must be attached to the form. If you have not done so correctly, you can resend the form.

  7. I have taken some Catalan courses, but I do not know if they are equivalent to the level of proficiency

    In this case, please write an email to the accreditations address ([email protected]) so that they can advise you.

  8. If I have already accredited my knowledge of Catalan with the UPF PDI Service, am I required to send the information again using the form?

    No, you need not send the information twice. If the UPF PDI Service already has your certificate/diploma of knowledge of Catalan, you do not need to submit the form.

  9. How do I know if the PDI Service already has my Catalan language certification?

    You can consult this information in your personal intranet space, and you can also consult the PDI Service directly by sending a CAU.

  10. I am a hired predoctoral research fellow; must I accredit my knowledge of Catalan?

    In accordance with Decree 128/2010, which provides for collaboration with teaching tasks by predoctoral research personnel in training, and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), hired predoctoral research fellows that have been assigned teaching tasks are not required to certify their proficiency in Catalan. However, they will need to certify their proficiency in Catalan if, having defended their thesis, they wish to teach in the Catalan university system. Therefore, UPF recommends that they begin their language training during their predoctoral contract so that they can reach level C1 in Catalan before defending their thesis.

  11. I am an adjunct lecturer; must I accredit my knowledge of Catalan?

    In accordance with Decree 128/2010 and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), adjunct lecturers hired by means of an employment contract with UPF must accredit the sufficient knowledge of Catalan at the time of hiring or within the following two years.

  12. I am a lecturer who teaches only in third languages, or subjects with contents taught in English or other third languages, or third language subjects (English, Arabic, French...). Must I accredit my knowledge of Catalan?

    In accordance with Decree 128/2010 and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), lecturers who teach in third languages are not required to certify their knowledge of Catalan. However, if at any time you wish to teach in Catalan or in Spanish in the Catalan university system, you will need to certify it. You also need to have minimal knowledge of Catalan to properly communicate with your students. Therefore, we recommend that you start your language training so that you can reach level C1 in Catalan as soon as possible.

  13. If I have held a permanent position (full professor, tenured lecturer, associate professor/senior lecturer) at the University since before 2010; must I accredit my knowledge of Catalan?

    In accordance with Decree 128/2010 and Law 1/1998, on language policy (enacted on 7 January, DOGC 2553), teachers who took up their position before 2010 are not required to certify their level of Catalan. However, if at any time you wish to take part in a contest for another position (for example, a tenured lecturer applying to become a full professor), you will have to provide proof. Therefore, we recommend that you start your language training so that you can reach level C1 in Catalan as soon as possible.

The Comissió avaluadora de sol·licituds d’acreditació de coneixement lingüístic del PDI is in charge of evaluating and approving, when appropriate, the applications that have been submitted. Idiomes UPF will inform the Servei de PDI of each of the approved applications and the information will be added to the transcript of each PDI.

The calendar for the meetings of the Comissió established for the 2023-2024 academic year is the following:

  • 22 March 2024
  • 31 May 2024
  • 26 July 2024

English

UPF teachers who give classes in English can certify an advanced level of this language by attaining the CLUC: Certificate of English as a Medium of Instruction. This exam provides accreditation of training in the provision of university teaching in English.

There are open calls in January and June. In order to prepare for the certificate, we recommend you to take the 6-hour workshop (free for UPF PDI) which is offered in the first and third terms.

Idiomes UPF is in charge of registration for the CLUC Certificate of English as a Medium of Instruction. For more information, check the certificate’s website or send an email to [email protected].

The CLUC Certificate of English as a Medium of Instruction comprises two exams:

  1. Written exam: This consists of two written tasks of at least 200 words each, related with the academic world.
  2. Oral exam: This is taken individually and consists of 5 parts:
  • Questions on the academic and professional profile of the candidate.
  • A presentation on a pre-established topic
  • Interaction with the panel in the form of questions and answers.
  • Presentation related with a classroom activity undertaken by the candidate.
  • Mediation task: the candidate has to give information about an activity or event using a piece of news in Catalan or Spanish.

€75. 

The CLUC Certificate of English as a Medium of Instruction formally certifies that the teacher is trained to provide university teaching in English. This is an interuniversity exam designed and offered by five Catalan universities (UAB, UB, UPF, UdG and UIC).