Linguistic Services

Linguistic Services

Introduction

The Language Services of UManresa constitute the technical body responsible for language policy at UManresa. Their role is to manage the plans and actions established by the governing bodies and the Language Policy Committee of UVic-UCC on the one hand, and by the Fundació Universitària del Bages on the other.

The task of the Language Services is to effectively respond to the needs of the university community in all matters related to languages. Their main objectives are to promote linguistic diversity, multilingualism, and polyglotism, while at the same time advancing towards the normal use of Catalan as the university’s own language.

Areas of activity

Institutional area
Teaching area
Research and knowledge transfer area
Management, administration, and services area

Language Policy stakeholders at UManresa

UVic-UCC Language Policy Committee: The representative body of UVic-UCC in matters of language policy.
Vice-Rectorate for International Relations of UVic-UCC and Vice-Rectorate of Manresa: The bodies responsible for language policy at UVic-UCC and at the Manresa campus respectively, implementing the guidelines established by the Language Policy Committee.
Language Services: One of the two technical bodies for language policy. It manages accreditation in Catalan for PTGAS/PDI staff at the Manresa campus.
Language School: One of the two technical bodies for language policy. It organises and manages training and accreditation in foreign languages for the entire university community and the general public, as well as training in Spanish and Catalan for students from other regions.

Contact

Language Services (International Relations Office)
FUB 1 Building – Ground floor – Space 0.E.1
idiomes@umanresa.cat
Tel. +34 93 877 41 79

UVic-UCC Language Policy Regulations

The language policy regulations of UVic-UCC are set out in the Language Plan (2023–2026).

Agreements of the Catalan university and research system

Rights and commitments

From the legal framework on language policy applicable to the Catalan university and research system arise certain student rights regarding the use of Catalan, as set out in the Plan to strengthen the Catalan language. In turn, UVic-UCC undertakes a number of commitments in relation to these rights, which are as follows:

	Rights	Commitments
1	The right to receive teaching in Catalan in accordance with the provisions of the course syllabi.	Catalan, the language of UVic-UCC. UVic-UCC identifies itself as a Catalan university in its organisational regulations. Catalan is its constant and shared sign of identity, and its use as the main language of university life is promoted.
2	The right to receive precise information on the language of instruction of each course prior to enrolment.	Linguistic transparency. UVic-UCC publishes information on the language of instruction of courses on its website (in the syllabi of all degree programmes).
3	The right to have the previously announced language of instruction respected.	Linguistic certainty. UVic-UCC provides a language rights mailbox and a protocol for handling incidents related to the language of instruction.
4	The right to use Catalan, orally and in writing, in all academic activities, except where other languages are required according to the syllabus.	Self-centred multilingualism. UVic-UCC applies a model of multilingualism based on knowledge of the university’s own language, the co-official language, and an additional language, primarily English.
5	The right to an offer of Catalan-language instruction in all undergraduate degrees, except those that by nature are taught in another language.	Degrees in Catalan. UVic-UCC’s degree offer is mainly in Catalan, except where the nature of the studies or target audience requires other languages.
6	The right to receive training in Catalan to ensure that students from outside the Catalan-speaking area can follow academic activities normally.	Training plan. UManresa, through the Language School, offers Catalan language training for the entire university community, with particular emphasis on incoming students and teaching staff.

International students and students from outside Catalonia

The UManresa university community includes students from other linguistic regions within Spain as well as from other countries. Some complete their entire studies with us, while others spend semester-long stays at our campus through various programmes (mobility, fellowships, etc.).

To facilitate their incorporation and integration, UManresa implements initiatives through the International Relations Office and the Language School, including free intensive and term-based Catalan and Spanish courses. This training offer is available on the Language School website.

UManresa students on mobility programmes

For UManresa students wishing to participate in international mobility programmes, the Language School organises preparatory courses and Oxford Test of English exam sessions throughout the academic year, enabling students to meet language requirements and apply for mobility grants.

Resources for linguistic and cultural welcome

	*Everything you wanted to know about Catalan:* In recent years, hundreds of international students have arrived in Catalonia without knowing the linguistic situation. Is that your case? You have surely had contact with Spanish, a language spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide, but you may not have a clear idea of what Catalan is. Here we present some facts that may help fill in the gaps. More information
	*First steps – Catalan and Spanish in five minutes:* Have you just arrived in Catalonia? Would you like to learn the two main languages spoken here? This pocket guide introduces both Catalan and Spanish. You will see how much they have in common and how easy it is to start speaking both languages. Overcome your shyness and get started—it could be a life‑changing experience. More information
	*Guide to support linguistic exchange:* This guide is a resource for language practice and for promoting interculturality within university language services. It provides participants in language exchanges with ideas, guidelines, and proposals to manage meetings and make the most of them. More information
	*Conversem? Support activities for initial Catalan learning outside the classroom:* Support materials for mentors and language volunteers who welcome students beginning to learn Catalan. The material includes seven worksheets based on real-life situations, with common vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical information. More information
	*Language openness test:* A quiz of twenty‑five questions that allows you to find out how open you are to languages. More information
	*Be linguistically sustainable:* A linguistically sustainable student values people and diversity, knowledge and freedom. This multilingual decalogue, available in several languages, offers guidelines for developing sustainable linguistic behaviour. More information