Language Policy and Planning: Aspects of Plurilingualism at an Italian university

Abstract

This paper explores the various aspects of plurilingual language policies at the University of Turin. An ethnographic document analysis substantiated with a student survey indicate that plurilingual manifestations serve three main themes: (1) a plurilingual curriculum with much emphasis on foreign language competencies across disciplines, (2) plurilingual policies for internationalisation purposes fostering quality education, mobility, employability and networking, and (3) a plurilingual external communication strategy aiming at promoting the university’s visibility for a worldwide academic audience. The policies adopted by the university, however, need to be more transparent and further consolidated so that the impact on the student community can be more significant and tangible.