BI – Creating a bilingual institution of learning

LMU MeetingWednesday– 11th March 2009

Agenda

• Why is it important?• Stats of international students• What has happened so far?

– SBIO– BI

• Challenges• Discussion Questions

BI ambitions

“The school focuses on integrating all students, Norwegian and international students alike, in the campus community. Information is provided both in Norwegian and English, and to an increasing degree student associations are being involved in this work.”

-Erasmus policy statement

Why is it important?

• Central to learning, welfare and integration of international students

• Availability of information• Develops an international learning

environment for all students• Reputation, nationally and internationally• Better research ”BI is a business school, which creates research-

based, life- long learning both nationally and internationally in close interaction with students, industry and public sector...”BI Strategic Program 2007- 2010

Number of StudentsCurrent:• ~700 International Students

• 7 out of 8 MSc programs taught in English (25% international)

• BBA (Exchange and full-time)

• MBAs

Future (target 2010):• 1000 International Students

”BI contributes to internationalisation through global exchange and recruitment of students” BI Strategic Program 2007- 2010

Current status… SBIOInternationalization committee started

Identified relevant groupsResolution

Nils writes letter to INSIDESBIO goes in to make the union bi-lingual

WebsiteScreensPosters

Timeline Phase 1

Current status... BI

• Translation of information is sporadic– Some departments better than others

• Information on the screens often only in Norwegian

• All information in the EUREST cafeteria is in Norwegian

• BI website is discriminating English

Common Challenges

• Implementation– Lack of commitment– No clear guidelines

• Language skills?

Discussion Questions

• How can we assure that all the relevant information within the BI system is available in English?

• Can BI have a unified strategy for dual language?

• How can we simplify the translation process?