Bilingual educational policy in higher education in the Basque Country

• Published in: Language, culture, and curriculum Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 41 - 55
• Main Author: Cenoz, Jasone
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.03.2012; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Basque; Basque Country, Spain; Basque language; Basque people; Basques; Bilingual Education; Children; Colleges and universities; Education; Education policy; Educational Policy; Foreign Countries; Globalization; Higher Education; International Education; Language; Language acquisition; Language Maintenance; Language Minorities; Language of Instruction; Language Planning; Language policy; Language Usage; Languages; Medium of instruction; Minorities; Minority Languages; multilingual education; multilingualism; Official Languages; Public spaces; School Policy; Schools; Spain (Basque Provinces); Spanish language; Teaching; Spain; Basque Autonomous Community Spain
• ISSN: 0790-8318; 1747-7573
• DOI: 10.1080/07908318.2011.653057

This paper examines issues related to the important impact of language policy in the Basque Country in recent decades. Basque, a minority language that was not allowed in the public space until the late 1970s, is an official language along with Spanish in the Basque Autonomous Community. The development of Basque has been most significant in education where it is not only a school subject but also the main language of instruction for most children. The paper briefly summarises this development and then moves to a focus on the use of Basque at the university level. The legal and organisational bases supporting the use of Basque are explained as well as the challenges faced by a minority language in higher education. The paper discusses the tension between internationalisation and the use of Basque for teaching and research in higher education.