Belgian businesses call for more English at universities

According to a report in De Morgen, the business world is calling for more courses in English at university level. "University-level knowledge of English is necessary for further economic growth,” said Pieter Timmermans, chief executive of the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB).  “It is high time to implement the language debate. If we do not do it now, then when?”

Timmermans sums up the feeling of many leading companies in Belgium that the business world is suffering because there are too few courses in English at university level.

"When it comes to knowledge of technical English, we definitely notice the difference between Belgian and foreign first-time workers,” said Deme, a Flemish dredging company with global operations.

"Belgian students have a good basic knowledge of English, but higher education does not extend that further," said Deme, which is obliged to carry out further training in English with its new Belgian recruits.

Sarens, a crane manufacturer operating in 60 countries, said: "Without English you can’t stand anywhere in the world. Flanders needs to catch up."

According to University of Ghent Rector Anne De Paepe and entrepreneurs, Flemish regulations are currently too strict. Only 6% of all Flemish bachelor courses may be taught in English.

"By almost exclusively offering courses in Dutch, we are closing ourselves off to the outside world," said Wilson De Pril, director at Agoria, a federation representing the technology sector. "All educational decrees taken now by new governments must come under the microscope."